The Russian Dolls Hidden Under The Surface

Charlotte Hatherley “Very Young” – The first thing you notice in “Very Young” is how Charlotte Hatherley plays her guitar: It’s all hooks and rock bravado, but with a precision of tone and dynamic effect that makes it sound like a mall-punk tune that has been tricked out by a knowledgeable, passionate pop nerd. The second thing you notice is the way Hatherley’s composition keeps pumping the listener up to a state of manic elation, but the jagged rhythms make you feel paranoid and uneasy, as though you could get caught doing something wrong at any moment. The third thing you notice is just how perfectly the lyrics are suited to the music. She’s singing from the perspective of a young woman who has become involved with an older man, but as much as she insists that it’s a positive, healthy, non-creepy relationship, you feel the song from the point of view of her partner, who is obviously a little freaked out by the age gap, but totally amped about it just the same. Hatherley’s character is wise to the fact that the age difference is a turn-on for both parties, and she plays it up to her advantage even when she seems a little put-off by his condescension. (Click here to buy it from Charlotte Hatherley.)

Elsewhere: Eric Harvey’s “year-end lengthy writeups” aren’t nearly as dry and banal as his self-deprecating title would suggest. If anything, it’s a steady stream of sharp observations laced with some of the most personal writing of his career to date. Please read it.