Beabadoobee - 'Pylon' Album Review

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Tracklist:

1. Pylon

2. Sun Has Set

3. Estranged

4. Switchblade

5. Write Me A Letter

6. It's Alright

7. In Motion

8. Memories

9. Nothing to Prove

10. Radio

11. Powerlines

12. Spark

13. Despite That

14. Satellite

I’ve been a fan for a while and watched and listened as Beabadoobee has grown up in public which is never an easy thing to do for anyone and always has its pitfalls, but I honestly wasn’t expecting this, this is the album where she steps it up, finds her inner indie punk rocker and proves there’s nothing she can’t do.

Beabadoobee has always had a way with lyrics but until now has had a very poppy sensibility, acoustic songs and pop songs have been what I’ve thought of her but I’m now reassessing my opinion.

The brilliant lyrics are still there, the intensity of the singing, the melody which she seems to pull out of the ether but there is more attitude than I’ve heard before and a general feeling of this is how I am if you don’t like it that’s your problem. I love it!

If I’m honest, I think I’ve always preferred female vocalists and I’ve especially preferred those with attitude, from Haim to Chrissie Hynde I think there is just something about a female voice with attitude that I love. I’m not sure what that says about me and let’s not go there but Beabadoobee has taken a step up in my view.

There is still a strong pop sensibility throughout the album but, at times, it’s with added attitude, added oomph, that just works so well. It’s the kind of album that you can imagine someone falling in love with and deciding it’s their favourite album.

I don’t know what the driver is behind this shift, but I do love it. This is going to be brilliant live. I’ve been lucky enough to see the live show before and now really need to see the next tour as this is going to be awesome live.

Am I gushing a bit, probably yes, but then it’s not often an artist you already love takes it to a new level that makes you wonder why they didn’t before.

This is the album that should make a good career a great career, possibly even a stellar one. I can see some of the songs soundtracking indie films but also blockbusters and getting the radio play they deserve. I don’t think her singing has been better, but I also think these are some of the best songs she’s written.

I do like the fact she’s confident enough in how good she is to also keep slowing it down, to still have the ballads and not to just kick ass. I would have missed her more introspective songs but there is an emotional honesty and rawness to this collection of songs that I can’t praise enough. More importantly I can sense some mass singalongs coming up. I would love to be at those gigs, I sense a communal experience celebrating an artist who has taken a step up.

Best album yet? Yes, no doubt about it!