Vicci Martinez proves her mettle (with help from Cee-Lo) on ‘Vicci’
Little did you know, but a movement is under way in pop music — likely unintentional, but a movement nonetheless.
The landscape is being chipped away by, of all things, lesbians. With Tegan and Sara’s recent Heartthrob and Sia’s last few forays into dance via megastars David Guetta and Flo Rida, ladies who love ladies are embracing their girly side outside of the grittier Etheridges and Carliles.
Vicci Martinez joins the movement with a batch of heartfelt tunes in Vicci, and signifies that pop goes the lesbian.
If the name is familiar, Martinez was on Cee-Lo Green’s team on one season of The Voice, coming in third. Although not her debut album, Vicci is a strong start for the singer. The album is borne out of strong emotions from her father’s death (to whom she dedicates the album), her brother (who almost died of AIDS) and a fledgling music identity and simply being true to herself. All that comes together in stellar fashion.
Cee-Lo guests on opening track “Come Along,” a slow-burner with the haunting feel of a Danger Mouse production. Green’s touch is subtle giving Martinez center stage. The song beckons the listener to follow her story through the rest of the 11 tracks.
With a lot to say, Martinez focuses on the roller coaster effects of relationships from the beginning in the bluesy bar song “I Want Your Kiss” to that blissful high in the rock-tinged “Not Washing You Off Of Me.” And when she hurts, that brings out the best.
Martinez displays strong vocal range in the declarative “I Can Love,” driving her lyrics against a pounding beat. Delicate words like and the light is on and it’s in my soul and I’m here for you stood against an epic pop/rock sledgehammer is both ironic and brilliant. Project Runway designers who say they like to play with hard and soft should hear this song to figure out what they actually mean.
She refreshes retro pop in “Run Run Run,” recalling the buoyant likes of Kim Wylde or Debbie Gibson. The song trusts the simplicity of its structure and the result is a beautiful track that is alive with some killer high notes by Martinez.
The most emotional moment of Vicci comes in the ballad “Let Go.” Likely channeling her father’s memory, the song resonates on every level imaginable — even the loss of a pet if you want it to. She doesn’t break your heart, she rips it open and devours it while you watch. It’s shattering and because of that, ultimately wonderful.
In the liner notes, Martinez discusses her journey to this album’s release, noting that her father financed the independently released Sleep to Dream in 2003. With several minor releases since then, Martinez seems she still needs to prove something to audiences. She closes Vicci with “Little Faith,” that again beckons the listener to stick around, only this time for her future. With a grander stage, and a little help from her now A-list friends and label, Vicci assures that pop has a strong, new(ish) voice that just so happens to be gay.
— Rich Lopez
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 7, 2013.