beabadoobee - 'This Is How Tomorrow Moves' Album Review
Tracklist:
Take A Bite
California
One Time
Real Man
Tie My Shoes
Girl Song
Coming Home
Ever seen
A Cruel Affair
Post
Beaches
Everything I Want
The Man Who Left Too Soon
This Is How It Went
Beabadoobee released her new album earlier in August, due to other commitments I’m only now getting a chance to review it which is a real shame as I’ve been a fan of her previous work and had been looking forward to listening to this new album having heard some of the singles and reviewed one of them.
It’s an album that builds on her previous work while also, for the first time in her career to date, showing a level of consistency which delivers her first truly great album. Until now it’s been all about brilliant songs with the occasional bit if filler thrown in like she’s sort of thought well I‘ve knocked these five or six songs out of the park so the rest will do.
It’s a more polished affair, very well produced (the influence of a certain Mr Rubin I suspect) but what’s really pleasing is that the lyrics and the singing step up, add that extra something that’s not always been there before and take this to a new level that I’ve always known she is capable of but which has only been seen in individual songs, not a whole album. That being said the end of the album is a little bit slow, perhaps 14 songs was 2 to many but it’s the first beabadoobee album I can see myself playing in full again. Until now, if I’m honest, I’ve been guilty of listening to individual songs, not something I like doing as I’ve always been more of the long player type but, while I’ve been a fan, there have been songs that haven’t done it for me.
This is the album that should break her out into a much bigger audience, something she’s hinted at for years but never quite achieved. I, for one, think it’s long overdue and am pleased to see its now on the cards.
There is grunge, there is country twinge, there is whimsy, there is a folksy feel, there is a bosa nova feel, there is pop, basically if you want something this album can you give it to you. As I said already though there is a massive step up in the lyricism and vocal delivery. It’s like beabadoobee has woken up one day and said this is my time, this is who I’m going to be, and this is my moment to show people just how good I can be.
It's an album that feels bathed in light, in joy, in wonder at the world while still having a melancholy feel. I wonder if the recent support slot for Taylor Swift has opened her eyes to other possibilities. I know this album would have been completed by then but the prospect of it must have caused some focus.
Whatever the reason for it I really enjoyed this album. She will never be a powerhouse vocalist, she’s always going to be more towards the overall sound of the song, the feeling, the soundscape but this is the album where she proves she can do it all. I don’t think I’ve heard her be so consistently good before, so sure of herself, so, well, just happy!
There a number of standout tracks, but I don’t think I should tell you what I think they are, that would be unfair to the overall feel of the album, it is, finally, a beabadoobee album you put on, sit back, let wash over you and sing, move, listen and enjoy. Her rise has been steady in the last few years, this should be the collection of songs to break her out completely, all those Swifties who saw her may be thinking of being unfaithful and having another favourite act, these are the songs to win them over.
Enjoy listening, enjoy the forthcoming tour, enjoy it all, this is an artist very much at their peak of their game (although I do suspect there are even greater peaks to come!).
Review - Iain McClay
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