Photo by: @emma.cdonald
Brooklyn-based singer Ginger Taylor’s latest album Yuppie is an atmospheric and bold narrative with a distinct and memorable sound. Consisting of five tracks, Yuppie is a concise and well-rounded album that takes you into the world of the yuppie and leaves you humming along. “Prologue” is a short track that sets up the themes of the album. It opens with a male host announcing “the official social debut of the yuppie” and it concludes with a female voice quelling assumptions about her happiness by saying “If I’m generally anything, I guess I’m generally miserable.” The use of such sound bites continues more subtly throughout the album, bringing an old-fashioned feeling to the otherwise modern songs. The title track addresses the stereotypes of yuppies in a catchy and dreamy song, where the yuppie works to keep her distance from a man outside of her social class. Weighty synth layered with lighter notes and sharp percussion create a unique and enthralling sound, and Ginger Taylor’s great vocal control perfectly conveys the yuppie’s attempt to be in control of the situation and set boundaries to avoid compromising her position in society. The following tracks, “99” and “Seaside Arms” are both dreamy but very different songs. “99” packs a punch with a variety of upbeat sounds and unique percussion strains. It’s a powerful song about saying goodbye to a place you once loved. Ginger sings “Cause I’m living my life, no more stars and stripes” suggesting that she is distancing herself from an unhealthy form of patriotism and American ideals. “Seaside Arms” features a soft electric guitar intro layered with indistinct voices talking in the background, bringing you straight to the beach on a beautiful summer day. While “99” touts confidence in the face of a difficult decision, “Seaside Arms” conveys a sense of confusion and focuses on a lack of control. One of the most powerful lyrics is “Yeah I’m scared to fail” followed by the interjection “fuck” sharply said as if she has just made a mistake. However, this song ends on a positive note as the lyrics change in a defining moment where the narrator takes control of the situation and leaves her unhealthy relationship. Yuppie comes full circle with “Epilogue” which wraps up the album with sound bites about yuppies, politics, and society followed by ethereal vocals and modernized jazz elements. “Epilogue” is thought-provoking and reflective, referencing earlier songs and themes especially noticeable in the lyric “I hold on to goodbyes.” Although there are only five tracks, Yuppie tells a profound story and begs you to listen more than once to understand the complexities of each song and how they relate to one another. One of the most impressive things Ginger Taylor does with Yuppie is create distinct and vivid atmospheres that truly immerse you in her world. Ultimately, Yuppie is an unforgettable collection of songs that introduces fresh sounds while reflecting on important societal topics.
Listen below and follow Ginger Taylor on social media here!
Written by: Courtney Thompson