The first time I heard of or saw Olivia Dean was on, "Saturday Night Live." Her song, "Man I Need," sounded like something straight out of the 1970's but weirdly soulless. It evoked the past while failing to give us anything particularly new. Her voice was good, but she sounded like a mediocre impression of music from the past without any unique spin. I figured I should give her a chance, but her other big hit, "So Easy," makes me think of Minnie Riperton without the vocal range or lyrical depth. I've listened to other tunes and find that there is no substance to Dean's music. Her songs ring more hollow than when someone signs, "Best wishes, we'll miss you," on the going-away card for a co-worker everyone actually finds (somehow) simultaneously dull and annoying. When I listen to an assortment of songs by Dean, I feel indifference and irritation.
I know Olivia Dean has many fans, and I am not setting out to, "Yuck," anyone's, "Yum." I debated even writing this article as I didn't want to come across as writing a mean-spirited, "Hit piece." That said, the fact that every time a song by Dean comes on the radio, I'll change the station to anything else as quickly as I can deserves discussion. I just wish she'd use her unquestionably great voice to make better music. Alex G. Frank once wrote for Medium, "There’s too much 'retro' pop in the world now — Olivia Dean could be an antidote." I'm afraid I only half-agree. Dean isn't an antidote; she's just another dose of auditory poison.
