Demi Lovato wants listeners to know that “It’s Not That Deep.”
The ex-Disney star and Grammy-nominated singer dropped her ninth and latest album on Friday, three years after her album “Holy Fvck.” While “Holy Fvck” leans more into rock, “It’s Not That Deep” marks Lovato’s definite return to the pop genre.
The album is an enjoyable and fun listen, but it doesn’t make any major musical waves.
I have been a longtime fan of Lovato, ever since I first watched her 2008 Disney Channel film “Camp Rock.” I’ve also loved her hits like “Cool for the Summer” and “Confident.” Lovato and her music have seen a lull since her supposed “prime” in the 2010s — but now, she seems to be making a comeback in full swing.
Coming off of Lovato’s recent marriage to artist and songwriter Jordan “Jutes” Lutes, “It’s Not That Deep” is a reflection on the current celebratory stage of her life. As a fan of her typical ballads and emotional pieces, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the lightness of this album.
Unlike some other pop girls, Lovato does not have any subliminal digs or diss tracks in her album. The songs on “It’s Not That Deep” all embody the kind of catchy quality where, as long as you know the chorus, you can sing along.
The album kicks off with a house-inspired hit, “Fast.” While listening, I was definitely fighting the urge to break out into a frat flick. The song immediately transported me back to the 2010s, to what I would imagine to be a bumping club.
“Fast” definitely stands out on the album as one of three singles Lovato released separately. Like other singles such as “Here All Night” and “Kiss,” the first track has a pop-y dance vibe.
“Kiss” is a sensual song with ultimately uncreative lyrics. The beat almost makes up for the lyrics, but overall I would deem it a skip.
“Frequency,” the only explicit track in the album, has a clear techno vibe. The contagious beats emphasize the repeating lyrics: “No one can f—k up the vibe.”
Lovato’s lyricism also reflects on her past and expresses optimism for her current and future selves. In “Sorry to Myself,” she sings lyrics such as “My mistakes have made mistakes of their own” and “I was the king of pain.” She apologizes to the audience, but most of all is “sorry to herself” for suffering in her dark moments.
I appreciated Lovato’s attempt to acknowledge her struggle through bipolar episodes, eating disorders and substance abuse, rather than keeping the optimistic tune through the entire album.
Most of the album’s pop-heavy tracks blend together, but “Ghost” stands out in its lyrical emotional depth. The song withholds the heavy dance beats and is the most similar to her past ballads. Even though it is slowed, it still conveys how in love Lovato is. She sings: “I could die just looking at you / But if you go before I do / Wanna be haunted for life by your ghost.”
As “It’s Not That Deep” goes on, the tempo starts to slow and the emotionality deepens. “Fast” and “Here All Night” directly contrast “Ghost.” The second-to-last track, “Before I Knew You,” loses the techno beat and catchy choruses of the previous songs.
Lovato’s intention of getting people on the dance floor was incredibly successful with pop hit after hit. While there was little deep messaging or emotional ballads, “It’s Not That Deep” accomplished a perfectly carefree, dance-inducing album.
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