Here we go folks, grab your popcorn, grab a piece of stromboli, get ready for a hot take, here we go.
I don’t get it.
Somehow, Billie Ellish has emerged as THE breakout star of 2019, her debut album evoking elements of electro, pop, art pop and ASMR vocals has somehow broached the mainstream and made the seventeen year old an overnight sensation.
Unless you’re a cynic like me who recognises the record label behind Eminem could easily promote a new star.
I first heard Ellish when you should see me in a crown was used as an official theme for a WWE show (cheap plug for my wrestling podcast here) last Summer, I thought the song was good, it had a good hook, nice use of electronic instruments and Ellish’s breathy vocals played off well against the cacophony of noise that structured the track.
When hype of her debut album reached fever pitch at the beginning of the year with notable critical adulation and respect from other artists, it was inescapable. So naturally, I How Do You, Fellow Kids.gif’d it and gave it a listen.
Now, I’m not here to absolutely rip the album a new one because in all honesty, there’s some good tracks here. Opener !!!!!! is studio banter quickly followed by bad guy which sets the album’s tone really well, horribly catchy with a wobbly synth, Ellish’s earworm vocals which are so breathy and quickly delivered that it makes it difficult to decipher, but overall, it’s a great stage to set.
The aforementioned you should see Me in a crown is another good track, filled with menace and dread with clearer vocals piercing through. There’s wish you were gay which is probably as close as Ellish goes to capturing a more mainstream sound with clearer vocals and more bouncy music, even the lyrical subject matter steers away from potential controversy and instead leads towards something simply catchy.
The issue I have with the album is collectively, it’s all quite samey, mostly anyway. Of course if you’re not a dinosaur like me who still listens to albums as collections of where an artist is at that point in time, Ellish’s album is mostly retreads of the same ideas and concepts throughout, with minimal expansion, making the record a bit of chore by the middle that doesn’t escalate higher than it’s whopper opener.
Again, your mileage may vary and I’m prepared to be in the minority, but for me, whilst not bad, it’s not anything truly outstanding and I’m more interested in the direction Ellish will go in future albums.
5/10
H
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