Flak Magazine: Review of Louise Goffin's Sometimes A Circle, 04-09-02

It seems at times that musicians without rich and famous parents are sunk. The music industry, while bottom-line obsessed and highly competitive, can be as nepotistic as any other field. In recent times legendary last names like Dylan, Lennon and Marley have doubtlessly helped the progeny of yesterday's stars get their feet in the door — in rare cases deservingly so.

As the daughter of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Louise Goffin must have some measure of help based on her bloodline in reaching the release of Sometimes A Circle, her de facto debut record after a couple of long-forgotten efforts in the early '80s. For instance, how many more-or-less unknown recording artists star in Gap commercials in advance of any sort of notable release?

Still, Goffin has a lot to live up to: Her parents stand without hyperbole among the greatest popular songwriting teams of the past 50 years, alongside Bacharach-David, Lennon-McCartney and Holland-Dozier-Holland. Everyone knows the songs: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "I'm Into Something Good" and "One Fine Day."

From the opening moments of Sometimes A Circle, it seems Goffin the daughter set her sights on a style distinct from anything associated with her parents. Electric beats and slick, ultra-modern production values are slathered all over the titular opening track. Unfortunately, it's the least affecting track on the disc — a would-be clever verse with clunky lines like "make her acquaintance/ she's high maintenance" spliced rather awkwardly onto a self-consciously radio-ready chorus.

This shaky start may cause discerning listeners to turn off the music before giving it a chance; they'd be missing out. An offbeat, overdriven sample of a creaky acoustic guitar opens "Instant Photo," indicating that proceedings are heading in a far more interesting direction. A series of beat-driven, almost trip-hop songs follow, as Goffin's singing alternates between flirty, affectedly girlish and sultry. "Sleep With Me Instead" is buoyed above the overly calculated naughtiness of its chorus lyric by a sweet melody and quirky arrangement including the Optigan, a fetishized piece of vintage keyboard curio.

In fact, just as Goffin hits her stride, vamping it up in a style familiar to fans of the semi-obscure Shivaree, Circle shifts gears, just like when albums used to have sides. The millennial coquette of Side 1 turns bitter and retreats to more conventional instrumentation and arrangement on the flip side.

Starting with the seventh song, "Saved by the Bell," things turn more solemn, wistful and singer-songwriterly. There's even some jazzy drumming provided by actual humans on a somber set of songs that could be filed alongside labelmate Fiona Apple, albeit with a lower drama queen factor.

Surprisingly, Goffin the singer-songwriter owes no more to Carole King than any other girl singing from her heart. Names aside, those who seek out thoughtful, personal pop music will find most of the album's high points on Side 2. Aside from the iffy beginning, Sometimes A Circle could convince the listener that Louise Goffin has enough talent of her own to make pedigree beside the point.

— Wayne Lewis (capsighs@pacbell.net)