P!nk’s signature “I don’t give a fuck” attitude is exploded throughout her new live album, All I Know So Far: Setlist.
Kick, alive, and vivid…once again after the long, traumatic worldwide pandemic. This deluxe music material is a live album that can easily revive the long-forgotten excitement without visualizing a high-budget stage set and many gorgeous dancers. Blasting with dynamite live album mixed with two studio recording songs such as the title track, P!nk’s latest single.
Personally, I finally met an anticipated album that exceeds my expectation. This one year, the COVID-19 era was a disappointing period that many artists failed to reach at their previous quality with their new albums, such as Katy Perry. Not sure if it was a reflection of the dark pandemic but many albums lacked dynamism…meaning boring. Finally, P!nk presented what she could do.
All I Know So Far: Setlist is P!nk’s second live album and associated product with the same-titled Amazon Prime movie mainly containing her first concert at the London’s iconic Wembley Stadium during Beautiful Trauma Tour in 2019. What made me surprised at the beginning was the super-crisp sound quality. Feeling like in the middle of all surrounding sound systems without expensive speakers. This dynamic yet super clear sound is one of the best quality in any live albums. The ultimate quality a superstar can afford.
Another wonder is, notably, P!nk’s vocal performance. More powerful and dynamic ever than her studio recording albums. Her voice doesn’t have the vocabulary of “tired” and “fading” no matter how many songs she sings. Her voice is also sophisticated as touching our souls with soft or emotional songs such as “Who Knew”, “Walk Me Home”, and Cyndi Lauper’s cover “Time After Time”. Only the con of this album is I feel P!nk’s voice is a mismatch with one of two Queen’s covers, “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Not only Freddie Mercury’s vocal was so intellectually and hysterically dramatic, P!nk’s keys and vocal characteristics don’t fit with this rock opera song. Also, I feel P!nk needs more vocal power to reach Freddie’s level. In the contrast, Queen’s other masterpiece, “We Are The Champion” is a good combo with P!nk’s powerful voice.
The live album includes 2 good new studio recording songs as previously mentioned. The flow between the live and studio recording is surprisingly natural even they are placed between live recordings. I didn’t feel any glitch. “Cover Me Sunshine” is a duet with P!nk’s daughter, Willow, and a warm, heart-touching song to prove the good bonding between the mother and daughter…even though it’s odd with her typical aggressive songs. Willow’s soft voice blossoms flowers under the sunshine. My favorite is “All I Know So Far”. Upon hearing the latest single, I was confident this would be a good album. This is a smile rock song but with plenty of smooth catchy melodies.
Also, this “All I Know So Far: Setlist” takes a role as her second best album since Greatest Hits…So Far!!! in 2010. For that purpose, P!nk gathered tight song collections in a perfect tracklist without any boredom. Not broadly comprehensive with her countless hit songs but focused to maintain heat in this one-hour album. Many of her necessary tunes are not included in this album, such as “U+Ur Hand” but I don’t see it as an issue.
My personal favorite part is a storming sound attack after member introduction during “Funhouse/Just A Girl”. I initially wondered why P!nk introduced her band members in the early stage of the concert, but I understood soon after. All member’s guts were united as one force to knock out the audience. P!nk successfully pulled and shined each member’s pride by showing her respect during the introduction.
We all music fans miss concerts a lot. P!nk’s live album will surely make fans anticipate her actual larger-than-life concerts after being frustrated with the series of virtual concerts without chemistry with the audience.
OVERALL POINTS: 99/100
- Songs: ★★★★+3/4
- Originality: ★★★★★
- Thrills: ★★★★★
- Song orders: ★★★★★
- Vocal: ★★★★+3/4
- Background: ★★★★★
- Sound: ★★★★★
- Production: ★★★★★
- Strong songs: “Just Like a Pill”, “Who Knew”, “Funhouse/Just A Girl”, “Just Give Me a Reason”, “F**kin’ Perfect”, “All I Know So Far”, “So What”
EXTRA (NOT COUNTED TOWARD THE OVERALL POINTS)
- Title: B
- Album cover: A-
RELEASE DATE (US): 05/21/2021
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