Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine

This release was not on my radar, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it on the 5/26/23 release list. I was immediately smitten on the first listen. I loved Arlo’s “folk soul” on 2021’s Collapsed In Sunbeams. My Soft Machine is not the predictable sophomore slump, but a massive step forward: Collapsed In Sunbeams + experience + budget + refined vision = art pop perfection (My Soft Machine). This is an incredibly slick-sounding album – in a good way.

Creating a pop masterpiece is elusive. It takes songwriting skill, studio wizardry, juxtaposition of familiar and new, and capturing the current zeitgeist. Arlo Parks hinted at it with Collapsed In Sunbeams and it is more evolved on My Soft Machine. This is an artist to be reckoned with.

This album has a wonderful sonic vibe. Mostly it is Quiet Storm Soul (although “Devotion” is an epic arena rock anthem). This is music to sway to (although “Blades” is a Michael Jackson Off the Wall-inspired slow dance vibe). At times, it gets trippy and psychedelic.

Under all the sonic sheen, the heavy lyrics deal with all matters of the human condition: a rough childhood, heartbreak, accept me as I am, don’t struggle alone, etc. The juxtaposition of a slick sound and heavy lyrics really works.

This album is easy listening enough to play in the background and complex enough for attentive listening.

“Bruiseless” is a short intro to the album. It starts the album with a heavy theme:

“I wish I was bruiseless
Almost everyone that I love has been abused, and I am included
I feel so much guilt that I couldn’t guard more people from harm”

“Impurities” is a slow jam. It is an “accept me as I am” anthem.

“Blades” is Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall-inspired dance music.

“Purple Phase” is psychedelic trip-hop.

“Weightless” makes you sway.

“Pegasus” (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) is dreamy pop. Inspired collaboration between Arlo and Phoebe.

“Dog Rose” has a nice 70s lite-rock vibe.

“Puppy” is a sweet sing-songy rap

“I’m Sorry” is a faster sway-pop with a little rap for the bridge.

“Room (red wings)” – never has heartbreak sounded so sweet: “Now I just wanna eat cake in a room with a view.”

“Ghost” is a slow anthem about not suffering alone and letting others in to help: “Melt right into you
Let you be the glue.”

Overall most tracks are contemporary sounding quiet storm soul pop, she can rock too. The songs are wonderful earworms that I can’t (and don’t want) get out of my head.