Sling (2021) – Clairo

Fader, Republic, 2021

Rising songstress Clairo looks to move on from her bedroom pop sound with her sophomore record Sling. With the help of super-producer Jack Antonoff, she achieves just that with a record that stylistically is almost nothing like Immunity.

On Sling, Clairo takes an indie rock, indie pop, and folk direction with Jack Antonoff stylings sprinkled on top. Things even get a little jazzy on the opener “Bambi”. Clairo’s exploration of various genres is quite a surprise considering the relatively consistent sound of Immunity, and the supposed implication—if not naive assumption—of a folk direction from the record’s lone single “Blouse”.

“Bambi” opens the record in a fun and light manner. It’s a jazzy pop tune that allows Clairo’s crystal clear vocals to stand front and centre. It’s one of the tracks with a more obvious Jack Antonoff influence. The muted guitar riffs and piano melodies feel very Antonoff. “Bambi” is a great track with a rather ambiguous theme, but decent lyrics nonetheless.

The next track “Amoeba” is the catchiest track on the record. Muffled electric guitar, skipping drum patterns, and Wurlitzer melodies create a super groovy indie pop song. Here, Clairo dives into devoting her time to the wrong things during her ascent into fame and how she had to realize she was doing things wrong. “Amoeba” is a fun tune that, with “Bambi”, acts as a one-two punch combo to start the record off on a smooth note.

Things get extremely “Antonoffian” on the third track “Partridge”. It sounds like something off of Lana Del Rey’s Chemtrails over the Country Club or St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home—both records produced by Jack Antonoff. The guitars and echoing vocal effects feel extremely reminiscent of St. Vincent’s recent release. “Partridge” is the track with the most Antonoff influence and it’s hard not to notice despite Clairo’s good performance on it.

“Zinnias” sees a return to the more upbeat vibes of the first two tracks. There’s an interesting guitar interlude in the middle of the song which breaks things up. It helps to give the track a 70s rock aesthetic. The finishing guitar solos cement that aesthetic by the end of the track.

The pace of the record after the fourth track takes a nosedive as the last three quarters of the record are folk and indie ballad focused.

The lone single off the record, “Blouse”, sees Clairo and her acoustic guitar deliver a beautiful folk track. The string arrangements that enter and exit throughout the track add a lush touch to make the track a little more grand. Listen closely and you’ll hear some sneaky Lorde backing vocals. Clairo’s stated this song was important for her to release as the lone sneak peek to the record as it’s about how women have to constantly face sexualization in the workplace.

The rest of the record sees Clairo mostly accompanied by guitar and/or piano. She gets very introspective as she contemplates on failing relationships, her experience with anxiety and depression, and being a woman in today’s society. The more stripped back production allows Clairo’s songwriting and soft vocals to be the focus—as they should in these extremely personal tracks.

“Harbor” is easily a standout track on the record. It’s a beautiful and poignant song about finally giving up hope on a romance. It’s simple in its approach, yet intricate in its execution. There are four acts to the song—a piano led first act, a short key changed second act, a third act when the drums kick in, and a fourth and final act in ¾ time that keeps its bounce despite putting aside the drums. It’s no doubt my favourite track on the record because of how marvelous it is.

Clairo’s sophomore record is delicate, yet very solid. Stylistically, it’s a major departure from Immunity, but is a success despite the risky leap. Thematically, Sling is recognizable for Clairo fans because of her personal songwriting and vulnerable approach to the record. Though Jack Antonoff’s influence is quite evident on early portions of the record, Clairo is the artist that stands out as the record goes on, and that makes the record a win for her.

Favourite tracks: Bambi, Amoeba, Zinnias, Blouse, Harbor, Management