Meandering but mature, Billie Eilish delivers a tangled musing surrounding fame, exploitation, and love with her sophomore album, 'Happier Than Ever'.
Ever since her debut album, Billie Eilish continued to nab more successes while also dealing with more disgusting presses. The sexualization of her body, the “flop” arguments of her recent singles, and the constant pressure of her successes that she felt like she didn’t deserve. And those meshes of ups and downs embody themselves in her much-awaited sophomore record, ‘Happier Than Ever’.
Unlike her debut album, this feels like a mature and measured step for Billie Eilish. The album structure meanders, the tracks linger and do not have the same pop banger standouts as her debut, and that’s what Billie was accomplishing in this record as she discusses her experience with negative stances towards fame, exploitation, romance, and the tangled details surrounding misogynists bullshit towards her body, abuse, pornography, and control. These lyrical details have to reflect upon the loaded tracklist, the methodical production and melodies that do have a sense of urgency towards the pop bangers that were included here, as well as Billie Eilish’s weary but controlled vocal delivery that sells her story potently. Not all tracks stood out as others, but they feel necessary with Billie’s experiences and that’s something that needs to be greatly respected and appreciated.
This is definitely an album that needs to be listened to on repeat, as what Billie is trying to speak about is something that needs to be given careful attention. Not everyone is going to be on board with this record, but for Billie and the women who have felt and experienced the same things as her, they needed this, and big respect to Billie for speaking out about her experiences.
Favorite Tracks: GOLDWING, Getting Older, Billie Bossa Nova, my future, Oxytocin, NDA, Happier Than Ever, Therefore I Am, Male Fantasy, Your Power Least Favorite Track: Everybody Dies