Caity Krone's raw, genre-bending EP 'Work of Art' strikes a nerve
The emotionally packed debut resonates deeply in this moment
Photo Credit: Shelby Schumitzky
It’s safe to say that 2020 as a year has almost all of us on edge. There are a thousand things happening in the world that are chipping away at our collective wellbeing, and all of these things serve to compound our personal struggles and moods. Facing the isolation of quarantine and the weight of everything make all of our feelings–good and bad–more intense. It colors everything, including art. Music burrows deeper when emotions are running high. That’s why songwriter Caity Krone’s debut EP Work of Art lands as effectively as it does. Krone is feeling everything just as intensely as anyone else, and the result is five songs that both showcase her firm grasp of multiple genres and styles, but the emotional rawness that makes her music resonate.
Work of Art is just 15 minutes long, but it feels as impactful as project triple that length. While Krone is a nuanced songwriter, she writes in a way that has complexity around a crystal clear, powerful message and sound. Opening track “Work of Art” is a perfect example. Musically, it starts with a folky guitar that much of her music is based in, but quickly incorporates denser electric riffs and mid-90s rock stylings. The opening musical ideas never leave though, as they keep the track grounded as she builds. Emotionally, the hurt from the unrequited love is intense and constant. “Don’t you know you’re all I want?” she asks before the song’s instrumental break, and the sting of her words mirror the frantic energy of the guitar.
Even on lighter tracks, the emotion is still running high. The snarky irritation on “Hotel On A Mountain” is a delight, and the imagery is rich and vivid. Punching through a hotel door out of frustration? That’s a picture that lasts and a feeling of frustration perfect for this moment. This track and “21” also showcase how easily Krone can take pieces of genres she likes and merge them into her own sound to create something special, similar to how recent pop writing experts Harry Styles and Kacey Musgraves have been able to diversify the genres pop can sound like. “Hotel On A Mountain” has strong country and folk vibes in its melodic guitar line, and “21” is a punk rock song grafted onto Krone’s pop writing.
Where Krone shines especially bright is on her ballads. “Thank You for the Sunday Paper” was released earlier in the year, but feels extremely timely. The sadness in the somber piano chords immediately cause an emotional reaction. Her writing keys in so expertly on the swirl of emotions that come from the end of a relationship and the fallout from it. “So I just pretend as I leave this place again that this just wasn’t our time” she sings, and that sort of hopeless convincing of ourselves is incredibly relatable. It doesn’t hurt that Krone can turn her vocals into overdrive when she wants to, belting through the pain and confusion. EP closer “I’ve Been Lonely” really shows this off, with the biggest and most pop-influenced hook on the project. But even still there’s a new element here, with Krone combining those big vocals with the most pronounced use of folk and synth elements in her repertoire. It’s the most involved track on the project, and it’s the perfect way to close Work of Art, full of emotion and big ideas.
Work of Art is a seriously impressive debut. There are so many musical ideas packed into such a brief EP, but it never feels overcrowded. It’s raw in its emotion but refined in how it delivers those feelings. It’s a moving listen, and it’s a notice that Caity Krone is a songwriting and performing force. As the skies get gloomier and we keep feeling everything so intensely, Caity Krone and Work of Art are the most fitting listen for the times.
