By Delia Paunescu
Up until last week, the only song on my iPod by Lady Sovereign was “Love Me or Hate Me.” I had always liked it for its won’t-take-no-for-an-answer attitude. I listened to it whenever I needed a quick dose of bad-ass, usually on the treadmill. What was missing from the first album, and the reason “Love Me or Hate Me” sat alone in my library for so long, was danceability.
Luckily, the petite MC is releasing a new album April 7. On “Jigsaw,” there are more club-oriented tracks and for a bit, I feel that Lady Sov read my mind…kinda.
Her sophomore effort starts off strong. There are funky beats, great rhythm and a generally fun, if mindless, aesthetic on “Let’s Be Mates” that renders it prime fare for a night out. In fact, the first half of the 10-track album bops along in the same direction.
The first single “I’ve Got You Dancing” is an honest declaration of what it seems Lady Sov is trying to do with “Jigsaw.” It’s a departure from the tough image to which we were introduced. This new video shows her with hair down, sans signature track suit and actually singing. But it’s not convincing that this is the real Lady Sov.
A change was to be expected of the 5 ft 1 hip-hop star. Having left Jay-Z’s Def Jam, Lady Sov began her own label with the help of EMI and appropriately named it Midget Records. This release is the first on the label, though she assures finding and signing other artists is in the works.
Lyrically, Lady Sov is not much different from the likes of Lily Allen or Kate Nash. Relationships, heartache and silly crushes dominate the subject matter much like on Allen’s latest “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” Sov’s title track “Jigsaw” actually could have been included on any of the other artist’s albums and it wouldn’t cause so much as a blink.
What set “the biggest midget in the game” apart from the other British songbirds was attitude. In the past, she’s had to defend her music to the media, mainly because it hasn’t fully fit in anywhere. Here, she continues crossing genres and even samples The Cure in the album’s second track, “So Human.”
But for all the party hype “Jigsaw’s” first half gives listeners, the second has Lady Sov returning to her hip-hop roots. This is what she knows best and for as much fun as the dance tracks might be, it’s clear the sassy singer feels more comfortable telling off randoms who request her friendship on Facebook, as she does in album closer “I Got The Goods.”
Being that this is her first entirely solo effort, “Jigsaw” is not without complaints. Certainly, it would be nice to see the once-cocky artist bring more of the self-assuredness I so relied on at the gym. Sure, she was ridiculous but she was herself. Now, she’s trying to be like everyone else.