PopSyndicate.com

Pink may have had a turbulent year with her high profile divorce, but she turned her troubles into the soundtrack for a good party with Funhouse.

Her hair may not reflect her name anymore, but Pink still carries the spirit of a rebel party girl on a tear. “So What” could be an anthem for that, and for her break-up rebound. It’s a classic commercial rock star poppy song, full of good energy that makes you want to shake your ass on a dance floor. The classic Pink double edged rebel-rousing while reveling in a good time is here, as well as some non-annoying girl power. And just for kicks, it ends with an irreverent raspberry. This song is pure fun – it’s constantly played on my ipod and, much to my husband’s chagrin, in the car (don’t listen to him. He secretly likes it). This song is, without a doubt, the rock star of the album.

“Sober” slows things down a little. It has pretty string accompaniment, especially in the closing of the song. “I Don’t Believe You” brings the album down even more than “Sober”, a pretty, sad song about breakups and the end of love. Filled with emotion and genuine hurt, this song shows just how much of Pink’s life inspires her music.

“One Foot Wrong” isn’t as good as the rest of the album – it’s the one you’ll skip past without even thinking. “Please Don’t Leave Me” would have easily fit in on the Sex and the City soundtrack – it’s about sad things (breakups again) but to a kind of poppy, sweet tune. This song combined with the last three really express a bitter breakup, the bouncing back and forth between I hate you and I love you. I dare any girl who’s had her heart broken to listen to this CD and not know that this is exactly how it goes.

“Bad Influence” is, without a doubt, my second favorite on this CD. It’s got an excellent, naughty vibe about being – you guessed it – the bad influence among a group of friends. Like “So What”, this song will definitely get your groove on while making you want to put on your best makeup and go a-partying. The chorus is fantastic, utterly fun and very different – it’ll make you feel a little dizzy just listening to it.

“Funhouse”, the title track, kicks of with a good vibe, but it’s more on the breakup theme, and though it seems like it would be a song akin to “Bad Influence” or “So What”, it’s not. It’s just an okay track, but the fact that it comes after “Bad Influence” kind of helps it be less fun. “Crystal Ball” is a slow, weepy, acoustic song with somewhat trite lyrics. As soon as the opening bluesy riff for “Mean” starts up, it’s a welcome relief from the last song. This is how Pink should do sad songs, not with something that sounds like it belongs on a Plain White T’s CD, but with vibe and body, with singing that comes from the gut and soul.

Starting off slow, “It’s All Your Fault” has a quick underlying pace that promises for a good, fast chorus – which it delivers on. Filled with energy, this song will (happily) stick in your head. “Ave Mary A” is another song for skipping right past. It has promise, but there’s something lacking here, the fun, the life, of other Pink classics.

The album closes soft and pretty with “Glitter in the Air”. Piano and lyrics filled with the promise of childlike wonder, the song leaves us with a feeling that it may be wrong, but it’ll all be all right.

This is a fantastic album, especially in “So What” and “Bad Influence”. Pink fans will be happy to have it, and it may just make a couple new fans for her in the process.

Oh, and P.S. – for all of you who say that it sounds like Britney’s new album, piss off. Britney only wishes she could have put out an album this good.

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