ALBUM REVIEW: Lucy Spraggan Shares Introspective Record ‘CHOICES’
ALBUM REVIEW: Lucy Spraggan Shares Introspective Record ‘CHOICES’
A collection of hard-hitting songs about facing life’s obstacles.
Words by: Ysabela De Ocampo
Music vet Lucy Spraggan has just released her sixth album Choices — a reflective and honest collection of songs, that are a trophy of one’s immense growth musically and personally. Offering insight to Spraggan’s choices herself, she opens up about letting go of alcohol, embracing self-care, moving on after a divorce and finding solace in it’s wake.
Lucy Spraggan opens the record with “Flowers,” a feisty-yet-sultry introduction. The track begins to tell the record’s story. It’s laid back tempo and tinges of wild, wild west style guitars that support her commanding vocal style that leads into the next track.
Choices walks through Spraggan’s experiences, sometimes hidden in feel-good melodies and upbeat tempos of her witty songwriting. On songs like “Roots,” she tells the story of someone trying to find stability in their life. Meanwhile, “Run to the Hills” contrasts the message by talking about feeling lost and needing to find their way home. She emphasizes the need and importance of personal space and time necessary to heal from mistakes.
Lucy Spraggan opens up more candidly about the weight of some of the struggles she dealt with in “Sober” — addressing the heavy topic that is, questioning who she would become without drinking. The honesty in her songwriting really shines through on this track with it’s stripped back instrumentals. She addresses the need for her choice to be sober, acknowledging that she could become someone worth believing in. Keeping with themes of heavy emotions, she delivers “If I Had a God” — which is exactly what the title addresses. Spraggan reflects on her relationship with spirituality on this contemplative ballad. Speaking honestly on searching for forgiveness and guidance. In a similar fashion to “Sober,” the ballad concludes with an uplifting message delivered with grace despite the sensitivity of the topic.
The sincere lyricism about relationships on songs like “I Spent a Night in the Desert” and “You’ve Let Yourself Down” only add to the strength of this record. “I Spent a Night I the Desert” is an up-beat ode to a friend, someone who stuck by you in a time of need. And “You’ve Let Yourself Down” is about extending an olive branch to someone, and the relationship turning sour regardless. Both lean towards a dance-pop beat, and address different sides of the coin when it comes to relationships. These two showcase Lucy Spraggan’s playful side of songwriting, without letting go of purposeful honesty behind her message.
On tracks like “Animal” and “Wild,” they shows another face of Spraggan’s sound. The two are high-spirited tracks, and lyrically the record starts to look up for good. These are anthems with self-empowering lyrics written by Spraggan’s inner rebel wild child. Tinged with feisty rockabilly style guitars and dancing beats, she leads us to the powerful tail end of Choices.
“Run” takes you through a moment of rejoice and relief that there are endless possibilities in life. It’s the part where the sun shines through the looming dark clouds. There’s a sense of safety in lyrics about overcoming hardship. Spraggan then takes us to her title track, and the album’s most powerful song, “Choices (Don’t Be Afraid).” This is where clarity, growth, gratuity and rejoice are most evident. It’s a heartfelt, acoustic track about unapologetically living life in the present. Spraggan closes the record out with “Why Don’t We Start from Here.” She continues to lift the spirits. “Why Don’t We Start from Here” is all about the clean slate and newfound personal growth, making for a satisfying end to the records journey.
Lucy Spraggan’s rise to fame is from her appearance on primetime TV show The X Factor, and she proves she is here to stay. Spraggan hit the headlines while maintaining the public’s respect as someone greater than a reality celebrity. On Choices she takes us through a journey of battles and consequences as a result of her own choices. The record holds immense personal and musical growth as she shares her wisdom through her introspective music. Ultimately proving that Lucy Spraggan is a fighter.
