Allie X: Girl With No Face— Forgive her, Father, for she has synthed
The theatrical Allie X released her highly-anticipated, first self-produced album, Girl With No Face, on Feb 23— the fourth anniversary of her last album, Cape God. Girl With No Face encapsulates the feeling of a dark gay bar in the 1980s with synths beaming and humming underneath brooding vocals.
Photo: Marcus Cooper
“Seriously thanks for your maniacal support of my maniacal record,” Allie X shared on Instagram with a set of memes surrounding the album’s release.
Allie X sets the scene with “Weird World,” acting as a prologue to introduce her point of view as a society outcast. Instead of mourning the past of her old “dream girl” mentality ruined by the world around her, she embraces her true self and reclaims any titles thrown at her. “Girl With No Face” continues to display Allie X’s sharp witty lyricism, with immaculate synth pop production.
In response to the societal critique of femininity, Allie X bites back with “Off With Her Tits.” The campy song utilizes the punchline of the view of plastic surgery from the male gaze. The dystopian-like portrayal of modernity is paired with the sonics of an aerobics video dance instrumental.
“Stop the ridicule / Stop the ridicule,” Allie X chants in “Off With Her Tits.”
The ‘80s synths, extremely present in points like “Galina,” turn even more cyber in “Hardware Software.” The track reflects on love for the internet and where the line is drawn between pain and pleasure. Allie X describes her real-life relationships with her parents, while also wanting to make a computer that brings pleasure. She implements technological terminology like “cut and paste” and “quantize” to convey her natural emotions.
“Black Eye,” the album’s lead single, returns to the production similar to Devo and Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical,” while contrasting with dark lyrical subject matter. Allie X takes her hard power to the next level, stating “There’s no need to cry / It’s just a black eye,” and letting the listener know that not only does she bite, but she also gags it down.
Photo: Marcus Cooper
Responding to Stan Twitter/X, Allie X reminds you not to sleep on her, with the aptly named track “You Slept On Me.” She achieves “icon status” by tastefully sprinkling in the lingo used by users and fanatics online. “John and Jonathan” explores a congruent theme, depicting the characters waiting in line to see her and cheer during a performance on stage at The Bowery in New York.
Fame comes at a cost and Allie X addresses that through “Saddest Smile.” However, she shares that she doesn’t feel the need to cry anymore, rather plasters on the aforementioned, saddest smile. She curates a witchy atmosphere in the chorus— building to a whimsical soprano release.
“Staying Power” is the 2024 Canadian version of Madonna’s “American Life.” The straightforward lyricism is reminiscent of the Queen of Pop’s 2003 album opener, compiled of many, to-the-point sentences in the verses that describe her current thought process on the world around her.
“I don't have the disposition for drinks with the girls / I don't sing for straight men 'cause they just ruin the world,” Allie X says.
Allie X sheds the darkness and goes full-on twinkling disco with “Truly Dreams.” The danceable, optimistic track is a fantastic end to the hardship depicted throughout the chronicling of Girl With No Face.
Allie X will be taking the album on an eight-stop tour this summer. Click here for tickets and more information.