EP review by Charlotte Poynton
While some may be spending the date of February 14th in a loved-up haze, others – including up and coming Naarm outfit Terra Rouge – are finding their perfect solace in an equally pop and grunge album, filled with unrelented rage and unbridled emotions. If this sounds like you, I’d love to take this opportunity to introduce you to Terra Rouge’s debut album released today, titled So Fucking Over It.
Read on for a track-by-track review, with a glimpse into each track and my favourite lyrics.
Track One: Fuckboy
Starting off strong with the album’s titular lyrics, Fuckboy is a new anti-valentine anthem for everyone who may find themselves all too familiar with red flags. Starting off with a retro nod through a verse in a muffled phone call style, our first taste of the album builds into the chorus as Terra Rouge recounts further poor encounters with men. Fuckboy is laced with cathartic chants that will certainly become big hits in live shows, including what seems to be a chant of past targets of this behaviour warning the next generation of doe-eyed innocents of the trauma they are about to unlock. Terra Rouge has channelled Hey Violet’s classic 2017 track Fuqboi in this tale of caution, which has set a high precedent for the remaining six tracks on the album to reach.
Favourite Lyrics: “Told me that you weren’t ready, but you had the capacity to fall for someone who isn’t me”
Track Two: Two Faced
The initial single that brought Terra Rouge to my attention is track two of the album, titled Two Faced. Audiences are immediately hit with the fact that this song is far more upbeat and boppier than the first song, with hookier lyrics and raw charm synonymous with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers music. A classic tale of deceit and raw teenage emotion, I can’t help but imagine this song right at home in a Disney Channel Original Movie soundtrack, and I mean that as the highest of compliments.
Favourite Lyrics: “I guess I better write a song and move the fuck on”
Track Three: Poison Heart
Poison Heart, the third track of So Fucking Over It, takes on a darker tone than the previous tracks, standing out with a hauntingly sultry style as if laced with the titular poison. Starting with a light distortion as if performed over a phone call, this retro caricature adds to the alluring nature of the song, intoxicating listeners into a spell of listening on repeat. Another winning aspect of Poison Heart for me has to be the abundant presence of block piano chords, transporting me instantly back to my time in high school music classes.
Favourite Lyrics: “use me until I bleed, until you find another toy and no longer need me ”
Track Four: Six Feet Under
At first I thought I had stumbled upon a bootleg cover of Sixpence None The Richer’s Kiss Me, before realising I was indeed listening to track four of Terra Rouge’s debut album, titled Six Feet Under. A classic melancholic addition for your sad girl hours playlist, this song comes straight from the heartstrings and will stick with you long after each listen. Six Feet Under introduces a previously untouched side of sorrow to the album, acting as a dilution to the otherwise relentless burning rage showcased in the other six album tracks.
Favourite Lyrics: “running through the trees, a world of broken dreams, now not everything is what it seems”
Track Five: Let It Burn
Starting off with the crackling of a freshly lit match is Let It Burn, track five on So Fucking Over It. What becomes instantly apparent about this song is that there is a higher level of production and clarity in comparison to the rest of the album, causing Let It Burn to stand out in a very positive light. Another win on this track is that it has the strongest vocal performance on the album, alongside being another win for the piano. I cannot synthesise whether it is the fact of this song being the objective strongest song on the album, or if it is the early 2000’s nostalgia, but Let It Burn is without a doubt my top pick from this album.
Favourite Lyrics: “let this fiery love of mine simmer down and slowly die”
Track Six: Deals With The Devil
Coming in at track six is the spunky little Deals With The Devil, a track which details an encounter with a dangerously mesmerising woman. Carrying all the classic elements of an 80’s rock song, this song is the queer gem that you could sneak onto your dad’s playlist under the guise of being a homage to his favourite song about a femme fatale. This song has immense potential to be the best moment of Terra Rouge’s live set, due to the upbeat nature pairing with lyrics equally as specific as they are non-specific, which allow all audiences to relate their own experiences into the premise of Deal With The Devil.
Favourite Lyrics: “She’s pushing me down as she walks all over me”
Track Seven: Rock ‘N’ Roll Band
Closing off the album is Rock ‘N’ Roll Band, which – based off the title alone – was the song I was most excited for off of So Fucking Over It. All iconic albums close with a meta reference to being a musician, see Hole’s Live Through This, and Terra Rouge did not disappoint with this track. As seen to be a common theme amongst many songs on this release, Rock ‘N’ Roll Band is initially stripped back at the beginning before building for the chorus and remainder of the song. There are many moments in this song that allow for a very cathartic crowd sing along and clapping in time scene, and I envision that this song will be a very big moment in the Terra Rouge live set. Akin to Two Faced, this track struck me as another that would be at home in the soundtrack of an indie coming-of-age film, which can likely be pinned down to the audible chord progression similarities to We Are Sex Bob-Omb from the Scott Pilgrim Vs The World soundtrack.
Favourite Lyrics: “How could a girl be so misunderstood? Now she’s living the life they didn’t think she could”
As a whole, Terra Rouge’s debut album is full of endless charm, immense potential and sets up for a very promising live show. If you’re keen on catching So Fucking Over It live and locally, Terra Rogue will be partaking on their very first tour across the country with an all-female band, with a free show at Meanjin’s Tomcat on the 25th of February.
