Australian Singer-Songwriter Blake Rose is on the Rise
Blake Rose By Tom Bender, @tombender
Twenty-two-year-old singer-songwriter, Blake Rose, is a name to lookout for. Rose first began playing music at the age of five when he took up the didgeridoo. After saving his money, he followed his dream and moved to Los Angeles, California and released his first single “Hotel Room.” The single was co-written by Joel Adams and Justin Gammella. Since then, he has released lots of music. His latest release is his debut album, A World Gone By. His debut album consists of 7 tracks. Here is a review of those tracks.
Track 1: “Casanova”
“Casanova” is a song about falling in love both too hard and too fast. This was the single Rose released prior to releasing the full album. Rose said, “It also explores how we feel when we/re surrounded by everyone in our lives getting into relationships and the pressure that comes with not wanting to be left alone.” In the chorus Rose sings a message to himself. He sings,
“Hey now, Casanova/I don’t wanna mess you up/But, trust me, if you love her too fast/She won’t ever love you back/You’re comin’ in hot like Arizona/No, I don’t wanna freak you out/But maybe if you love her too fast/She won’t ever love you back (Love you back, my love).”
This is one of the more upbeat tracks on Rose’s debut album.
Track 2: “Rollerblades”
“Rollerblades” like “Casanova” is a feel-good song. During the chorus of this song Rose sings,
“Ah, Ah/Every single day/Was like I’m running on rollerblades/In a dream I can’t escape (Ah-ah, ah-ah, oh, oh no)/If I could fly through outer space/I’d find somebody who will lay next to me/Say it’s all gonna be okay/While we dance the nights away.”
After listening to “Rollerblades” you’ll want to throw on your own blades and jam out to this song.
Track 3: “A World Gone By”
“A World Gone By” is one of the slower tracks on this album. This song is about being blinded by love. Rose opens up the song by singing, “You had me wrapped around your finger/Like the ring you always wanted.” Later in the first verse, Rose sings about the smell of a cologne that used to linger and how he always thought it was his own. During the chorus Rose sings,
“So blind for you, baby/I’ve been all this time, honey all this time/So don’t cry for me, baby/Open up your eyes, it’s a world gone by.”
Track 4: “Sweet Caledonia”
“Sweet Caledonia” has a mesmerizing production, including the piano and some heavy drums. In the chorus Rose shouts,
“How did I get so far?/How did I get so far, running away from you?/How did I get so caught up/How did I get so lost, trying to hide from you?/From my childhood, yeah.”
Towards the end of the song is a beautiful outro. After hearing the piano and drums, bagpipes and guitar enter the song during the intro. During the final lines of the outro Rose sings, “Yeah I can still taste (Sweet Caledonia)/Our youth is like a brick in Rome/It’s hard to ever really know/What’ll stay with you when you’re older.”
Track 5: “Ordinary People”
“Ordinary People” is about a love that you hope you can hold onto forever. This song, although consisting of a simple melody with guitar strums, is beautiful. The chorus goes like,
“I really hope that you don’t leave/Like ordinary people/But a fool could see/That you would never be in love as deep/And it tears me apart.”
Along with “Sweet Caledonia” this track also consists of a heartfelt outro where Rose sings, “I know, I know, I know/That you would never be in love as deep/And it tears me apart.”
Track 6: “Movie”
“Movie” is one of the sweetest tracks on this album. Rose co-wrote this song with Canadian singer-songwriter, Nasri. This track is full of allure and it is heard within both the melody and the lyrics. One of the best parts of this song is the pre-chorus where Rose sings, “But the universe is playing tricks on me/He’s got you giving your heart to someone who’s not.” During the chorus Rose sings, “When your life flashes before your eyes/Do you like who you’re with in that movie?/Or do you belong in mine?” Rose has a thing for outro’s and he is exceptional at creating them. The track’s outro is a simple acoustic guitar while Rose sings
“’Cause when you’re young, everything feels endless/But it’s over in the blink of an eye/So do you like who you are in this movie?/Or do you belong in movie?”
Track 7: “Hearts A Mess”
“Hearts A Mess” is the final track on this album. This track is the perfect end to this masterpiece. Following the first verse and chorus is a short instrumental break that ties the whole song together. During the chorus Rose sings,
“What you said to me/That if we never last/I hope we live and laugh/You’re all I’ve ever wanted/At least I got to tell you that/’Cause now I’m looking back/You’re all I’ve ever had.”
The bridge on this track is breathtaking as Rose singles “Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh” over and over.”
Rose wrote and produced majority of A World Gone By, by himself. Listen below to hear the brilliant Blake Rose.