The follow-up to her 2008 self-titled debut, Meiko's 2012 effort, The Bright Side, builds upon the singer/songwriter's buoyantly melodic indie pop sound. Working with producers Styrofoam (Jimmy Eat World, Postal Service) and Jimmy Messer (Kelly Clarkson, Neon Trees), Meiko has streamlined her bedroom pop aesthetic while still retaining the intimate, girl-in-the-next-dorm-room vibe. Primarily an acoustic singer/songwriter, here (as on her debut) Meiko fills out the songs with various electric guitars, keyboards, violin, trumpet, and even a few electronic beats. Showcasing her raspy, yearning voice, Meiko's songs are also still full of wistful thoughts of love and romantic crushes, boys that got away and ones who she hopes never do. In that sense, The Bright Side is a pleasant affair that depends heavily on Meiko's sense of a good hook, as on the sweet '60s pop-influenced anthem "Thinking Too Much" and the similarly engaging contemporary R&B-inflected "Let It Go." Elsewhere, we get the chipper '50s ballad-sounding leadoff cut "Stuck on You" and the moody "Leave the Lights On." Ultimately, for fans of Meiko's positive, sunny pop, The Bright Side is just the view they want.
© Matt Collar /TiVo