The thing I love most about Billie’s work is her unpredictability. You know where you start, sometimes – but you never know where you’ll end up by the time you’re done listening to those songs.
I’m not one for small talk, and this album doesn’t deserve anything small to be honest, but I’ll have to mention that it was an absolute joy discovering this album without knowing anything about it. She’s on a level anyway where the Billie brand is enough to get people to listen so no need for spoilers.
Kudos Billie. No single before release was truly a genius move.
Alright, onto the real shit now – ready to be hit hard and soft? Because trust me, that’s what you’re up to. Bring an extra towel too just in case you make it to the end of the album – surviving not guaranteed.
1,2.. GO.
Taking a deep breath will be useless, just dive right in because a mere seconds in and those harmonies will take it away anyway. Starting strong and soft, what an aptly named album. Ha.
SKINNY
will directly send you to the deep end of emotions. Conjuring right up, sounds that transcend and become your life jacket for things to come. What a startling start. Don’t worry, that jazzy guitar will soothe your fears, but truly the synth and bass are of the essence here, and an absolute perfect match ensuring the storytelling continuity.
Are you drowning already?
Don’t worry,
LUNCH
is gonna initiate CPR and bring you back on your dancing feet faster than any paramedic in the vicinity. If you’re not bopping around, I’m definitely calling time of death though, because what an ABSOLUTE banger. It’s definitely gonna turn into one hell of a sapphic anthem. Expecting it to get much radio play which is always a good thing. I am absolutely in love with that general trend of FINALLY having more queer stories and feelings hitting the general audience.
Two songs in and I’ve already half died and been brought back to life. Give us a minute Billie, chill out. Which is exactly what
CHIHIRO
seems to bring you, or so you thought. Enticing vibes replacing your now gone heartbeat just long enough for you to feel alive and well again. It will make you feel like floating around in music and feelings. Now that’s a wholesome vibe – wait, not so fast. Here comes that last bit. Soft? Nah. Hard. Pounding powerful waves breaking on us again. Uh Oh. We’re going places, people, hang tight.
Oh okay, I got scared (again) for a minute but here we are, landing in pop heaven with
BIRDS OF FEATHER
back to lying on my back and letting those drumming induced waves carry me wherever the hell they want. Oh what a feeling, it doesn’t get much better than this. A perfect bliss riding on the surface of things – but makes you wonder what’s lurking underneath? I know, I can never just enjoy the moment, jeezuz.
My main issue with pop in general is the fact it’s often very smooth – too smooth, me like the bumpy rides – and makes me feel like ONLY riding on the surface of things, hovering over even. But I know better than to expect that from Billie. You do get those good feel vibes, but they’re always woven with so many strong and relatable emotions. She’s a master at grasping you from under it all with her sensibility, with no ulterior motive – maybe? I’m still not over Lunch sorry – than sharing her heart and soul with those who want to listen.
You get to
WILDFLOWER
and the epitome of it. A song you can FEEL. Billie’s fans will know what I mean, there’s always something in her voice and its delivery that is pretty unique. You can slowly hear her own heart unfold. Without further ado,
THE GREATEST
follows up in a magnificent way, encapsulating that crescendo so well. It all lies within the strum of a guitar grabbing your senses in such a delicate, almost nurturing way. Experiencing that intent pouring through every word. Big wow moment. If you felt like floating so far, prepare for ascension with that song.
L’AMOUR DE MA VIE
will remind you that Billie has more than one influence, that guitar scale has a time traveling power for those who’ve been around a bit longer – the old farts like me. A maturity in sound from both Billie and Finneas production. A nostalgic feeling soon bouncing back to the now like a slap. I wasn’t expecting that electro part creeping on me out of nowhere. Hit me hard. I get it now. Let’s dive back into darker waters then.
THE DINER
is reminiscent of Billie’s earlier work, it holds that shadow-y energy she’s so good toying with. Those deep bass clashing with a higher pitch is definitely a vibe. It serves as one hell of an introduction to
BITTERSUITE
that is the one that will give you that gut wrenching feeling and take you on a journey you won’t see coming. The different places you will go in between those 4 minutes 58 is quite unreal, and definitely Billie’s trademark. Always expect the unexpected, and that’s one of the many reasons I love that girl. It’s not just music. There’s a true artistry in the larger sense behind the construction of her work like a painting you’ll have to look at for days on end to uncover all its details. It’s not any mysterious bullshit, it’s all there hiding in plain sight, you just have to embark on that ride with her on a destination unknown. It’s full of sharp curves and dizzying views. It might even feel like at times that it’s going in every direction all at once but don’t worry, your girl’s at the wheel and she won’t let you fall off that easy.
It follows up with
BLUE
so well I didn’t even notice the transition at first. The same wild ride takes you a notch higher, or more so further. The kind of song that makes you feel like you’ve reached the opposite shore at last and if that wasn’t just sea level, it would truly feel like being on the top of the world. Maybe it’s all perspectives after all. Just grab a towel and enjoy the feel of the dry sand slipping through your hands.
Enough of shit metaphors – we all got way too wet with that Lunch alone let’s admit it.
You just find yourself in a place where you can reflect on it all – hopefully contemplating brighter days ahead as the sun sets on that twirl of thoughts and emotions this piece brought you.
The whole album feels like a tricky but salvatory swim in the ocean, or more simply put , like a conversation late at night. Those starting on the surface of things bubbling with energy and joy and getting deeper and more honest in meaning as the hours and in this case, the songs unfold. Hearts opening up, reflecting on days gone and those to come before bouncing back to the now, and what lies ahead. A conversation you would have with someone you can trust and there’s no wonder why Billie Eilish got the supreme status every artist wish to achieve : Music Star/Best Friend. Songs so relatable they can so easily mirror your own feelings. It’s always a two way conversation when the music reaches that level of excellency. Ha.
Is it Billie’s best work? I don’t know, I’ll let much brighter people be the judge of that. I don’t like to judge music, I enjoy things or I don’t, that’s about it. And I did enjoy this immensely. All I’ll say is that the production is pristine as always – Finneas, you’re the man – and ‘Hit me hard and soft’ combines Billie’s biggest strength for me : her sensitivity and honesty but also her genuine talent for storytelling. The songs truly get you to places in such an easy natural way. There’s no forcing those feelings upon you. It’s genuine and real.
All in all, I’ll always be amazed how someone so young can harness emotions you feel in a lifetime. She’s just a musical genius and nothing you can say will make me think otherwise.
A very mature album that will make you dance and smile but also cry and stop in your tracks leading you to a place we all fight to reach – acceptance. And that’s the apotheosis ‘Blue’ leads you to.
An acceptance that doesn’t feel like an ending though, more like a stage in the journey and an invitation to things to come.
Congrats Billie, you’ve kept your word – hitting me hard, hitting me soft, and leaving me craving for more.
“But when can I hear the next one?”
Hopefully very soon.
