LOVE + FEAR (Acoustic) is the fourth studio extended play (EP) by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA' on September 13, 2019.
The EP contains 5 acoustic versions of songs featured on LOVE + FEAR, 3 from Love and 2 from Fear. It was produced by Ben Fletcher.[1]
Background[]
On May 2, 2019, in a Instagram Q&A, a fan asked when the acoustics of the era were coming and Marina replied, "they're coming."[2] Four months later, Marina made an Instagram post on September 4, saying:[3]
"I know how much you’ve connected with my acoustic versions of songs in the past, SO… Friday 13th I’m dropping the LOVE + FEAR acoustic EP✨💖🌿"
Marina spoke to Billboard about the EP in 2019:[4]
How did you choose which songs off of the album to record acoustically?
- Well, I think sometimes when the production is more... I was about to say about the production being more synthetic sometimes some songs don't carry as well acoustically, but I think it's more just to do with the structure of the song and the ease of singing it. Like, it's down to how comfortable I feel singing it, so I've picked songs that felt very natural and easy for me to sing.
Were there any challenges with changing the production?
- Yeah, it does take quite a lot of time to get it right if you want to do it properly. I think when I started doing the acoustic series from the days of, like, "Hollywood," I think what we were doing was, we were recording the songs on set and then I would perform to them. So I'd essentially lip sync to a version I'd just recorded because it was too difficult to record it live and do a video; it just didn't work out well. And then with Electra Heart I did the same, and the same with Froot. With this one I've treated it more like I would an album, so I've really taken care with the production and done it in a way that isn't just like, 'This is a semi-live acoustic version of this song.' It's more a very polished, honed version of it.
Music Videos[]
Three videos were released to accompany the EP. All were directed by Nikko La Mere.
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Superstar (Acoustic) | |
| Premiere | 14 Sept 2019 | |
| Length | 4:02 | |
| Director | Nikko La Mere | |
| Production company | AJR Films | |
| Executive producer | Derec Dunn | |
| Editor | Shaina Stein | |
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | True (Acoustic) | |
| Premiere | 16 Sept 2019 | |
| Length | 3:19 | |
| Director | Nikko La Mere | |
| Production company | AJR FILMS | |
| Executive producer | Derec Dunn | |
| Editor | Violet Boix | |
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Karma (Acoustic) | |
| Premiere | 25 Sept 2019 | |
| Length | 3:50 | |
| Director | Nikko La Mere | |
| Production company | AJR FILMS | |
| Executive producer | Derec Dunn | |
| Editor | Katia Spivakova | |
Critical reception[]
Love + Fear (Acoustic) was met with mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Mike Nied from Idolator provided a positive review of the EP, writing that Marina "breathes new life into previous single 'Superstar'" and he described the acoustic version of "Orange Trees" as his "personal favorite" and the "absolute standout of the bunch".[5] Allison Stubblebine, writing for Nylon, called the EP a collection of "stripped-down songs" and considered it a surprise release aimed at Marina's fanbase.[6] Riana Buchman from WRBB was somewhat mixed in her review of Love + Fear (Acoustic), giving it three stars out of five. While she enjoyed "Orange Trees" as the closing track of the EP and called it the main highlight, Buchman said it was "cluttered", and songs like "Superstar" and "Karma" sound like "drab copies of the originals"; with her adding: "Although the acoustic EP delivers a more honest and vulnerable Marina, it also reveals the lack of depth in the original album’s lyrics. Without the distracting, loud synth and booming bass, the lyrics emerge as rather simple and cliche."[7]
Tracklist[]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | True | Ben Fletcher | 3:19 |
| 2. | Superstar | Fletcher | 4:01 |
| 3. | Karma | Fletcher | 3:48 |
| 4. | No More Suckers | Fletcher | 3:29 |
| 5. | Orange Trees | Fletcher | 3:08 |
| Total length: | 17:46 | ||
References[]
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B2VxWHtAQwv/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BE5ng8HiWs&t=1s
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B1_fCgzh7PM/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8529831/marina-interview-love-fear-acoustic-ep-tour
- ↑ https://www.idolator.com/7870693/marina-announces-her-love-fear-acoustic-ep?safari=1&adblock=1&chrome=1
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/marina-karma-acoustic-video
- ↑ http://wrbbradio.org/2019/09/26/marinas-acoustic-take-on-love-fear-misses-the-mark/
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour ♢ Merch ♢ Photography ♢ Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | LOVE + FEAR ♢ LOVE + FEAR (Acoustic) |
| Tracklist | Handmade Heaven ♢ Superstar ♢ Orange Trees ♢ Baby ♢ Enjoy Your Life ♢ True ♢ To Be Human ♢ End of the Earth ♢ Believe in Love ♢ Life Is Strange ♢ You ♢ Karma ♢ Emotional Machine ♢ Too Afraid ♢ No More Suckers ♢ Soft to Be Strong |
| Non-Album | |
| Pre-Break | Holiday ♢ Absent Love ♢ Cause I'm A Woman ♢ Cruel ♢ Doubt Your Love ♢ Worth It ♢ The Art of Letting Go ♢ There's Nothing Wrong With You |
| Post-Break | If It's Worth It ♢ Demons and Angels ♢ Please Don't Call Me ♢ Water Under the Bridge ♢ What I Wanna Do |
| Unleaked | Beautiful World ♢ Unknown Song ♢ Unknown Song (w/ Lizzo and James Flannigan) |
| Misc | If I Left The World ♢ About Love ♢ Etsi Einai I Zoi ♢ Only Want You ♢ With a Little Help from My Friends |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |