Album Review: Frankie Cosmos “Close It Quietly”

Greta Kline is so accessible that you can co-write an album with her. Yes, you! Through her band’s website, visitors (musicians or not) can work their way through a set of instructions to create unique songs for what will be known as An Induced Album. She even posted a half made drawing that you get to complete for the album art. And all she asks is that you tag her in your work. Besides co-writing albums with strangers, Kline fronts her own musical ambition as Frankie Cosmos. A New York City native, this musician is the daughter of two actors and has even dabbled herself (The Squid and the Whale). Growing up in a creative environment coaxed Kline into shaping her ironically adorable and charming onstage presence and personality. 

Venture over to the Frankie Cosmos’ discography to get a clear idea of just how massive of a song collection Kline (under many different aliases) has made in her scarce, yet fruitful 25 years. In 2014, when she released her debut album as Frankie Cosmos, fans witnessed the birth of an indie pop rock hero. Zentropy (Double Double Whammy Records) brought us a raw, unrefined and refreshing collection of 10 two-and-a-half minute songs. Next Thing (2016) brought us super breezy and fun lyrics over 15 two-and-a-half minute songs. This trend continued through last year’s Vessel (18 tracks) and into this year’s new release, Close It Quietly (Sub Pop Records).

With bandmates Lauren Martin, Luke Pyenson, Alex Bailey and producer Gabe Wax (Beirut, Deerhunter, IAN SWEET), this new album features a whopping 21 song track list. Don’t let that discourage you from listening, though, because it comes in around a reasonable 40 minutes. The short song format allows the band to play us everything they ever wanted, without any needless elements. A few early singles (“Windows”) kept the same essence as previous albums, but other tracks (“I’m It”) showcase her distinct, honed vocals and smooth lyrics that flow out of her mouth, turning some of the more mundane and mediocre aspects of life into something worth listening to: “Your eyes swing shut like an orange peel/but it’s just gravity…”Fans of Frankie Cosmos will appreciate the song dump in Close It Quietly—both for retaining past qualities and for new approaches, the perfect mix when musicians like where they’ve been but like where they’re going more.