HomeARTSBlue Ribbon Winner Takes Second Place

Blue Ribbon Winner Takes Second Place

By CHRIS SURPRENANT
Arts Editor

Schuyler Fisk’s sophomore album Blue Ribbon Winner is like listening to a Taylor Swift album—deep, personal lyrics without aggravatingly excessive angst. To her credit, Fisk wears her heart on her sleeve, but has enough restraint to not whine about the perils of love. Her voice is light and pleasant to listen to. However, being easy-on-the-ears doesn’t bring out the album’s full potential.

The album’s title track, “Blue Ribbon Winner,” is an odd way to start off. Fisk’s voice croons, “You could be my blue ribbon winner/ Yeah you get the prize.” While a blue ribbon is usually a sign of achievement, the folksy/country genre of Fisk’s album brings to mind horses or cattle. I don’t know that anyone would necessarily like to be compared to cattle, even if he or she was “blue ribbon” quality. I understand the subject of the song is supposed to be the best-of-the-best, but it’s just a strange way to express it.

Later in the album, “Tell Your Heart” is where Fisk really hits the emotional/confessional tone she’s aiming for. She sings, “Tell your heart it shouldn’t be afraid/ I’m so in love with you that I should be ashamed.” She extends an olive branch here to love interest, asking to start over. Her voice is varied and has more depth than the first few tracks. The twang of the steel guitar adds to the emotion and overall richness of Fisk’s very personal lyrics.

Following “Tell Your Heart” is the dark “Zombie.” While it certainly makes sense to have darker tunes on an album that deals with the rollercoaster of love, “Zombie” is in sharper contrast to the rest of the tracks. The metaphor of one being a zombie in a relationship makes sense–“You can’t love me ‘cause your heart don’t beat”—but the grounded, realistic nature of the album makes “Zombie” stick out like an undead thumb.

One of the album’s highlights comes in the playful “You Hung the Moon.”  The organ that accompanies Fisk’s voice adds to the longing feeling she creates. It’s a sad, dusty-road ballad that sounds like a sweet, old-fashioned love song. Her songwriting is at its best here, with lines like, “Whenever you leave me you know I’m blue/ So baby please come home soon/ I look at the sky and think of you/ ‘Cause after all you hung the moon.” It’s one of her more poetic, nuanced tunes.

Though most of the album is country/folk inspired, the most unique is the eighth track, “Irregular Heart.” Out of all the songs, this one has the most crossover appeal for those who are fans of hybridized “country pop.” With a catchy baseline and upbeat piano, Fisk verges into Taylor Swift’s turf—that is, pre-“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” more like, “You Belong to Me.” Fisk, however, has lyrics much more genuine than Swift’s, giving her more credibility as someone who speaks from the heart. Two can play that game, Taylor.
Fisk ends on a good note with the last two tracks “Givin’ Up” and “Waterbird.”

In “Givin’ Up” she comes to terms with a relationship that isn’t going anywhere, hard as it is. Her voice is much more powerful here, and her lyrics conjure up images of defeat that are so ordinary, yet so significant. The final song “Waterbird” is the track with the most varied sounds. With the most twang of all the tracks, it’s the album’s most country-sounding song. Similarly to “You Hung the Moon,” it’s chock full of subtle meaning and beautiful imagery.

While Schuyler Fisk’s Blue Ribbon Winner isn’t flawless, it’s definitely worth a listen. Fisk’s airy voice, coupled with her poetic lyrics make the album standout in a time when meaning can be lost in a sea of flash and effects. If you’re looking for some easy listening, check out Blue Ribbon Winner for a welcome change of pace.

Notable Tracks:

•    “Tell Your Heart”
•    “You Hung the Moon”
•    “Irregular Heart”
•    “Givin’ Up”

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