Local cabaret queen Emma Dean is back with her sophomore release, another quirky ten-track venture brimming with whimsy. On the surface, certainly, there’s much fun to be had here, but Dr. Dream is not without its pitfalls. Dean’s latest effort proves childlike, playful, but predictably so, as Dr. Dream displays little in the way of any creative risk on the artist’s part.
Local cabaret queen Emma Dean is back with her sophomore release, another quirky ten-track venture brimming with whimsy. On the surface, certainly, there’s much fun to be had here, but Dr. Dream is not without its pitfalls. Dean’s latest effort proves childlike, playful, but predictably so, as Dr. Dream displays little in the way of any creative risk on the artist’s part.
Revisiting her previous works – say, for instance, the Face Painter EP of 2006 – shows a disappointing level of progress. Four years on, listeners can expect to be treated to an almost identical piano-pop aesthetic with few surprises in store. While all of Dean’s hallmarks and her greatest qualities as a performer re-emerge, it might sound all-too familiar to returning listeners. It’s as if we have the sassy, flame-haired songstress figured out. Her sharp witticisms filter through an impassioned array of vocal gymnastics, proving – though likeable – merely a comfortable state of affairs, shunning new creative exploration.
Even as a self-contained record, Dean’s work suffers in the same way: track by track, it all feels like variations on a theme, songs and their elements recycled and repackaged time and time again. It’s not her writing that’s at fault; it’s the relentless production posing an enduring emphasis upon keyed instruments. While it might be Dean’s specialty as a performer, is it really necessary to have piano play such a prominent part in every track? By the end of the record, the approach is more or less stale.
That’s not to say that there aren’t highlights, however. The mechanically creepy Sincerely Fearful proves a memorable, offbeat cut. Meanwhile, the cutesy, endearing Thunder provides an unorthodox account of sincere romance.
Happily, one may file Dean between the likes of Amanda Palmer and Regina Spektor, but there’s still a large divide at play, particularly given such a safe showcase. An exercise in chartered territory, Dr. Dream bears a very specific cabaret appeal that should provide a nice, entertaining introduction to those unfamiliar with Dean. For fans and those who are acquainted with her style, however, a typical collection beckons.
