Because I Can

Katy Rose

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: January 27, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: V2 North America
• ASIN: B0000DBJ9Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,961 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Spin
"This Los Angeles rock ingenue throws a better teenage riot than Liz Phair at her Avril-est"

Product Description
Japanese pressing of the alternative pop/rock singer/songwriter's 2004 debut album includes two bonus tracks, 'Lullabye' & 'Overdrive' (Video). V2. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A bit of Fiona, a bit of Liz, and a lot of talent., February 16, 2004

By	Richard Stoehr "Idle Rich" (Bremerton, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Because I Can" is my new favorite accidental find, an album I ran across at the music store and simply can't stop listening to. I had never heard of Katy Rose before, and all of the songs were unfamiliar. And yet, they're absolutely infectious.

I can hear some of Katy's influences in her style. Her vocal range and variety of music hearkens back to Fiona Apple's first album "Tidal," while her raw honesty and sometimes brutal lyrics remind me a bit of Liz Phair's "Whip-Smart." I've also learned that Katy is currently touring with Liz Phair, which seems like a good match to me.

Listeners who try out the album's first single, "Overdrive," and dismiss Katy Rose as "another Avril Levigne" are missing out. While Avril is certainly talented in her own way, she gets along in her vocals primarily by yelling them. Katy Rose, on the other hand, is a singer of exceptional talent for her young years, and listening to all of the album's songs reveals a sense of poetry in the written word and a voice with range and control. The vocals at the beginning of "Enchanted" and throughout "Snowflakes" and "Because I Can," for example, showcase a soft touch not even hinted at in "Overdrive."

The instrumentation of most of the songs is an irresistable power-pop, heavy on the guitars and drums, with some occasional electronic rhythms added to good effect. There are a couple slower songs which add to the variety presented, but in all cases the music goes along well with Katy's voice and the lyrics she is singing.

The lyrics themselves are complex, clever, and unique -- sometimes harsh as a slap and sometimes soft as a feather. It was in this area that I was most strongly reminded of Fiona Apple, whose lyrics often have similar characteristics. Katy Rose isn't copying Fiona, though... she's definitely expressing herself in her own way. It is the singularity and honesty of the lyrics which make me think of Fiona, not any specific words. From "I broke my crown while kissing/little flowers" (from "Enchanted") to "When you say you'll always be there/It paints such a lovely picture/But no matter how you frame it/It's still pornography" (from "Glow"), there's a little something for everyone on this album, and it's all good.

I enjoy all of the songs on "Because I Can," and the CD has been playing almost constantly since I bought it. My favorite songs are "Glow," "Snowflakes," "Watching the Rain," and "Because I Can." In this music I hear a lot of talent, some of which may yet be untapped. I will surely be listening for more to come from Katy Rose.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A suprise treat!, September 12, 2004

By	Beketaten "beketaten" (Pangea) - See all my reviews

Katy Rose is a refreshing deviation from standard punkier-than-thou Avril/Lillix-etc.-fare.
Though some of the lyrics veer on the pretentious, this is a great offering from such a genre, especially from a young teenage performer, who are so often misrepresenting the entire age-group as lacking in sufficient talent.
It's funny, sarcastic, and somehow touching to hear the human issues faced by someone of her age, in an eloquent and engaging way. The melodies are also very well crafted and catchy.
I do hope she gets more recognition in the future.
If you think Avril is almost good but hopelessly lame and frustrating, do pick up this album.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a solid performance for someone so young, January 31, 2004

By	"saiyan_goku4_1999" (Mississippi State Uni., MS United States) - See all my reviews

I first heard of Katy Rose through the movie Thirteen. Catherine Hardwicke, who co-wrote the script to the movie with Nikki Reed, heard Katy's songs, and decided that she must have her on the soundtrack. In fact, she eventually selects two songs, "Overdrive" and "Lemon," because she found Katy Rose so right.

Katy Rose has a remarkable range as far as the songs she has on her album Because I Can. Many people have already heard of her single "Overdrive," but I can honestly say that it is not a true representation of Katy Rose. The only way one can truly appreciate Katy Rose as a talent is to listen to the whole album in order to get the full effect. You will get a wholly different impression after listening to the album than you would if you just listened to her single.

Her songs range from the poppy sounds of "Overdrive" and "Teachin' Myself To Dream" to the melancholic and even dark sounds of "Lemon" and "Because I Can," the former practically becoming the unofficial anthem of the movie Thirteen. On other tracks she switches from depressed to manic and angry with songs such as "Catch My Fall" and "I Like." "Catch My Fall" is probably the most frenzied composition out of all the songs on the album with a complex yet catchy beat; the beginning of the song literally begins with her screaming. Other songs which strike a somewhat mournful if not soulful tone include "Enchanted" and "Snowflakes." Perhaps the most poetic song is "Watching The Rain"; it actually sounds more like a poem than a song with the almost conversational manner in which she sings. The range is quite impressive for a freshman artist; you'll have to listen to other songs to see for yourself. You don't have to take my word for it.

If the end product of pain is great works of art and expression, then Katy Rose has no doubt suffered her share of it. I believe she has admitted in some interviews that she has been in counseling for depression and her periods of, in her words, "self-destruction." It is quite obvious, at least to me, she poured herself into this album, and she's quite a talent being able to play the keyboards and handle a guitar; you should see her perform live if possible. Good can come from things in life that seem pretty bad.