Album Review: Pink "Funhouse"

Pink has evolved quite a bit throughout her career. She has gone through many different sounds, ranging from R&B to pop to rock & everything in between. One thing is for certain though: the girl is talented. I've always followed Pink because of that fact. As she prepares to release her fifth studio album Funhouse, I find it very exciting that she is having so much success with its first single "So What." As I'm sure others have noticed as well, it seems that Pink has really found the sound she is most comfortable with & is therefore making some of the best music of her career. This fact is further proven after listening to Funhouse in its entirety.

After starting off with the excellent "So What," Pink gets rolling with "Sober," an insightful, yet catchy pop/rock track. "I Don't Believe You," my favorite song on the album, follows & is a beautiful ballad that has Pink showing a more vulnerable side of herself. The decent "One Foot Wrong" was unfortunately placed during the sequencing of the album because though it is not a bad song by any means, it pales in comparison to the track that comes before it.

"Please Don't Leave Me" is one of those songs that proves that Pink has really found her place in music where she can shine. The track is also a personal one, but it has a great beat as well. Another one of the uptempos that Pink is best known for can be found in "Bad Influence." The title track "Funhouse" comes next & has Pink appropriately displaying her 'fun' personality. Pink goes for an almost folk sound with "Crystal Ball," which works for her.

Even for Pink, I wasn't quite expecting the country twang that started off "Mean." Still, the track is a solid one & shines mainly thanks to its lyrical content. "It's All Your Fault" is definitely a standout track on Funhouse. The song features great vocals, a lovely mix of piano & guitar, & just a tad bit of vocoder. I know what you're thinking, but it's only on one line in the song, so it gets just the right reaction. Another track saved by Pink's exceptional talent is "Ave Mary A," which doesn't do a whole lot for me, but is still alright. Funhouse closes up shop with "Glitter In The Air," a gorgeous & inspirational song that is perfectly placed.

I always find a new Pink album to be a breath of fresh air. With Funhouse, Pink easily accomplishes that task once again. People may sometimes expect an album full of the pop anthems she is famous for, but they should be aware that Pink has much more depth than that. She can't really be placed in one genre, but that isn't a bad thing. It's true that it can be more fun to listen to her sing as outrageously as she talks, but it's great to hear her more vulnerable side as well. Funhouse has, at the very least, everything one might expect from Pink & just might be her best album yet.

Rating: 4/5 Stars