Pink
Try This


2.5
average

Review

by DaveyBoy EMERITUS
October 20th, 2008 | 15 replies


Release Date: 2003 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Pink goes Punk! Well not quite, but she does rock things up a lot more here. Attempting to hit too many targets on her 3rd album, there is not a bulls-eye to be seen.

One gets the feeling that the quality and success of Pink's second album 'Missundaztood' took a lot of people by surprise. Reports suggest it definitely surprised her record label, who predictably wanted to keep the dollars rolling in by having Pink release a follow-up as soon as possible. But Pink being the feisty character she is, was never going to remain stagnant and was exploring a number of different opportunities at the time. The one she eventually chose for her third album 'Try This' was to have most songs co-written & produced by Tim Armstrong. Yes, that Tim Armstrong who is the lead singer & guitarist of punk band Rancid!

Unfortunately, there is a feeling of incompleteness about many of the cuts here... Possibly due to it being released before Pink was happy with the final product. The incompleteness in question can be seen with the opening 3 tracks on the album, which also happened to be the only 3 singles released from the American version of the LP ('Feel Good Time' from the 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Soundtrack' was included on international versions). The frantic up-tempo guitars & drum rocker 'Trouble', the chorus-reliant electro-rocker 'God Is A DJ' and the attitude-filled mid-tempo rocker 'Last To Know' are all effective enough in their own right. In fact, an argument can be made that they are indeed the 3 best songs on the album. But they lack that outstanding pop hook to make them sufficiently memorable and enhance the replay factor of 'Try This' as a whole.

With Tim Armstrong involved in over half of these tracks, it is of no surprise that this album is much more rock influenced than Pink's prior 2 releases. And along with Armstrong playing some guitar, he brings along Rancid band-mates Matt Freeman & Brett Reed to assist, as well as Blink 182's drummer Travis Barker and veteran guitar guru Steve Stevens. Yet, this is still basically a pop album when all is said and done, so the players can only do so much. Ironically then, it is when Pink uses different instruments such as horns in the funky party cut 'Tonight's The Night', 'Walk Away' and 'Unwind' or a sitar in 'Catch Me While I'm Sleeping' where she excels.

Despite the Armstrong affiliation, Pink wisely does not cut all ties with the past as 3 songs were co-written by 'Missundaztood' collaborator Linda Perry. Unsurprisingly, all 3 cuts are very solid, but once more do not hold up to the better tracks from the previous album. The best of the 3 is the short & energetic up-tempo rocker that is track 9 'Try Too Hard'. In another ironic twist, this may compete with the opener as the punkiest song on the album, despite Armstrong not being involved in its writing. The lyrics also help out this cut as Pink attacks unoriginal copycat artists as if it is a personal issue.

'Missundaztood' was a lyrical revelation from Pink and it is no surprise that the personal nature of many of the songs included on that album helped make it what it was. Quite frankly, the lyrics here pale into insignificance in comparison, with many of the pieces being held together by thin premises. Take 'Last To Know' for example, which is basically about a new boyfriend not turning up to her gig when he said he would. There are the occasional lyrical winners such as the emotional 'Save My Life' and the super-slow acoustic ballad 'Love Song', but they come too few and far between now that the world knows what Pink is capable of.

Furthermore, from a vocal perspective, Pink almost seems to use this album as training-in-public. Her voice is clearly raspier in order to give that rock-chick effect, but it is inconsistent in hitting the mark and could actually have turned many of her pop fans away. Vocal experimentation also seems to be fully in effect here as she uses rap-like vocals in the verses of the derivative 'Humble Neighborhoods', while attempting to whisper menacingly in the off-putting duo of the hidden track 'Hooker' and the collaboration with controversial Canadian singer Peaches that is 'Oh My God'.

It should not be misunderstood that 'Try This' is an awful album, as it is not. It is simply an album which attempts to hit too many targets and only succeeds in catching the outside of them on occasions. There is not a bulls-eye to be seen. As a result, and due to the variety of styles on show here, the album does not really flow well. While even though most of the songs have something to like about them, pretty much all of them seem best in the moment and should have been something a lot more special had there been a little bit of extra tweaking. In a strange way, you would expect that Pink will learn from this and become a better artist moving forward. But in isolation, her third album 'Try This' is a significant drop in quality (and ultimately success as worldwide sales were down approximately 75%) from her previous release.

Recommended Tracks: Trouble, God Is A DJ & Tonight's The Night.



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user ratings (88)
3.1
good

Comments:Add a Comment 
kygermo
October 20th 2008


1007 Comments


Your as bad as I am with my Prince reviews lol

AtavanHalen
October 20th 2008


17919 Comments


70 reviews you freak, well friggin' done.
I remember absolutely nothing about this album.

Jim
October 20th 2008


5110 Comments


i remember the singles

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
October 20th 2008


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Haha Kygermo, I wouldn't call us 2 peas in a pod just yet. Prince has a few more albums behind him than Pink does. Although I was thinking of reviewing the entire Queen discography next!!! ;-)

Thanks Dave, although I am unsure that 70 is an actual milestone. Where the hell is your next review coming from...??? It's been like 3 weeks since your Queen review! As for this album, it sort of did just pass by without much of an impact. Even I thought Pink had probably kissed her career goodbye after this.

But like James says, I remember the singles. But even then, I never really thought any of them were that good. 'God Is A DJ' got some attention as did the Charlie Angels soundtrack song because the movie was very popular at the time, but that was pretty much it.

AtavanHalen
October 20th 2008


17919 Comments


I've had exams, man, give me a break.
Expect a review or two this week, though- not all of us can keep up your routine of breakfast/review/dump/review/lunch/review/nap/review/beer/review/TV/review/dinner/review/TV/review/sleep.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
October 20th 2008


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Hahahaha. Alright, where is that spy camera you've installed? Oh no, you have simply guessed very close to the truth as there is usually a red wine thrown in during the evening (+ a few more beers during the arvo).

Anyway, I still can't wait for your 'Black Ice' review. I was reading an interview with Patrick Stump (of FallOut Boy) somewhere & he said AC/DC have been the only band in the history of music that has got away with playing pretty much the same old thing album after album!

AtavanHalen
October 20th 2008


17919 Comments


Hahaha, I love how you add (of FallOut Boy) as if I don't know who he is. My username is after an FOB song!

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
October 20th 2008


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah, good point. Unnecessary in that case. I suppose I have just got into that habit as it is a pet hate of mine when reviewers make comparisons to other people in reviews expecting the reader to automatically know who they are referring to.

I only recently found out the other day actually that there is a band called 'Atavan'. Anyone heard of them...???

AtavanHalen
October 20th 2008


17919 Comments


Hmm. I haven't, but I suppose I'm obliged to now.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
October 20th 2008


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

That's right. By choosing that username, you are legally obliged to have listened to every single song that FallOut Boy, Van Halen & Atavan have ever made.

AtavanHalen
October 20th 2008


17919 Comments


2/3 ain't bad.

Poet
October 20th 2008


6151 Comments


holy crap 70 reviews in 7 months. I need to get going again on reviewing.

I don't even remember this album coming out.

bastard
October 21st 2008


3432 Comments


Although I was thinking of reviewing the entire Queen discography next!!!


sup gblackman jr.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
October 21st 2008


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Just call me Mr.Consistency! My aim of 10 reviews per month is being achieved so far, although I am unsure how long I can keep it up.



As for not remembering this album coming out, it's probably because it wasn't all that good & was not promoted too much... Especially by Pink herself, who I am almost certain did not want it to be released at the time.



And Bastard, who are you calling Jr...??? I pity the fool that calls me junior!This Message Edited On 10.21.08

pizzamachine
April 6th 2023


27773 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

The swag of the previous album is not here.



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