the singles of pylon - beabadoobee

Photo from Pylon photoshoot

Hi everyone! We are sooo back! I'm excited to start another semester of blogging! It's a little bittersweet since I'm supposed to be graduating this winter ;-; but life must go on! Also, I've decided to turn Earworm into a biweekly blog so I can invest more time in my posts throughout the semester.

ANYWAY lets get into this weeks topic- I wanted to write mini-reviews for all of beabadoobee's singles for her newest album "Pylon". I've been really excited for this project of hers, because I've been eager to hear her get deeper into the rock genre. I'm not sure if I will get around to reviewing the whole project when it comes out, but I figured covering all her recent songs would be a good compromise! Ok boom here we go..

Sun Has Set

Photo from Pylon photoshoot

This song was almost exactly what I was hoping to receive from this new beabadoobee era. The lead-up to the chorus is very addictive and varies the pace here and there, making it an engaging listen all the way through. I love the muffled guitar in the intro and throughout the verses; it gives the song some edge. They aren't reinventing the wheel with this production style, but I do like how it takes elements from 2010s rock and implements them in a way that feels trendy and fresh.

On first listen, the lyrics do a good job of serving the production and the song's overall vibe, but I wouldn't say they leave a lasting impression. There isn't any standout songwriting happening here; it feels like the lyrics are mostly for aesthetics rather than telling a story. Not that it's a bad thing, just don't expect any jaw-dropping moments in the songwriting department. This may not be a very complicated song, but I still think it has immaculate vibes and is a good sign of what's to come!

Switchblade

Promo image for Pylon

This song's in the same vein as the last, but it's not as energetic. It's a chill song, but some might find it a bit flat in comparison to the previous single. I wouldn't say it does much to grab your attention, either. Unfortunately, I don't think the lyrics make up for a lot. The lyrics aren't bad per se, but they are still kind of surface-level, and I personally think they lack depth. I think it suffers from the same issue as "Sun Has Set"; these lyrics are meant to sound good to the ear but don't really carry much weight. I didn't have as big an issue with this before, since "Sun Has Set" wasn't making a point to emphasize its lyrics. "Switchblade", on the other hand, doesn't have a strong production it can rely on. Generally, there are more thoughtful lines in this song than the last, but still no standouts to me. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate this song, but I just don't see much of a reason to return to it any time soon.

Memories

Photo from Pylon photoshoot

This song was a nice breath of fresh air after the previous one. This song is the most digestible out of all these singles, with an upbeat yet light sound. The rock influences aren't as heavy in this track, but it still mostly consists of acoustic instruments. The lyrics are a significant improvement as well. It's a pretty average love song, but in an era where most love songs have some theme of doomed yearning sprinkled within, this is a nice change of pace. If I had to describe it, the core idea of this song is about the constant memories you create when you are with someone special. It's not about wanting someone simply for the sake of it, but for the hope that you can keep making priceless moments together and enjoying each other's company. When I write it out, it feels a little cheesy. But whatever, it's just a cute song! Also, I really like the time that this song was released. It feels perfect for the end of the summer. This one's definitely one of my favorites right now.

There you have it! These releases may not be perfect, but that's alright. I'm still excited to give the full album a listen when it releases in the coming weeks. I hope some of the issues I've pointed out aren't as prominent in the album track, but only time will tell! As always, thank you for giving this a read and I hope you have a great start to the semester! Earworm ~-~-~o ♪

Thanks for reading!

-Joey :)