Beth Ray Writes

The album has been out for over 2 weeks now but I am finally writing up my review on the excellent new album from Billie Eilish “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”. It makes her third album and it’s by far my favourite. With a mixture of slow ballads, sexy pop tunes and a few mellow tracks these are songs where we see Billie Eilish opening up and letting her thoughts be shared with the world.

To begin with let me explain why this album has had so much excitement surrounding it. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” left fans eager for the album to drop with Billie not releasing any singles prior to the albums release, only a teaser on Zane Lowe’s Apple radio show and with tracks “LUNCH” and “CHIHIRO” played at a surprise set at Coachella. So we weren’t really given any insight onto the theme of the album which added to the hype of what the new sound, if any, might be. Eilish then released free tickets to fans in New York to a listening party on May 15th at the Barclays Center where they could hear the album in full, a few days before the rest of the world. It turned out when fans attended Billie and brother Finneas appeared on the arena floor and filmed themselves listening to it with fans. Which is an idea I ADORE. You can watch the videos on Youtube, with all 10 album tracks on there now and I love the idea of the fans sharing this moment with their favourite artist. I thought it was a really cool idea and I hope other bands and singers take note, especially with the free tickets.

Ok let’s get into some of my favourite tracks. One of my favourite part of listening to a new album is hearing the lyrics for the first time and hearing the story an artist wants to tell the audience.
The first track that made me go “OH OKAY” was “LUNCH” it just ooooooozes sex appeal, sass and it flirts with your ears. Lyrics like: “I’ll run a shower for you like you want/ Clothеs on the counter for you, try ’em on/ If I’m allowеd, I’ll help you take ’em off” it’s a great track and one you will have no doubt heard already as it’s been released as the first single from the album.

“CHIHIRO” follows it up with more dirty bass riffs, dazzling synths and glorious harmonies but it is “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” that is my album favourite. It opens up with the lines:
“I want you to stay/
’til I’m in the grave/
’til I rot away dead and buried/
’til I’m in the casket you carry/“

But Beth this sounds a bit more deep, how can this be your favourite track? I hear you ask? Well just give it a listen and hear your ears melt into the beats, it’s funky, it has rhythm and it makes you want to dance. Honestly it’s a masterpiece of a track and I can’t get enough of it.
Whilst “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is about falling in love (honestly it does, give it a listen) we move onto “WILDFLOWER” which is about the messiness of a friends relationship ending and then moving onto said friend’s now ex and the guilt that ensues. It’s a beautiful ballad and highlights the complications that some relationships can have.
“Did I cross the line?” Billie cooes. She sings about the guilt and the insecurity of how this new relationship can feel for her. It’s beautiful and worth your attention.
The other tracks that follow are equally as beautiful and once again Billie shares with fans her emotions which will no doubt resonate with many but it’s the last track “BLUE” that fans were excited for.
“BLUE” had been a ‘lost track’ that had been composed years ago and was even mentioned in her documentary (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, available on Apple TV – a must watch for any music fan) but it had never appeared on her previous two albums. Fan’s finally got to hear the finished version on this album, Billie and Finneas talk about finally putting it out into the world on their interview with Zane Lowe.

To conclude, this album is beautiful, smart and captivating and deserves to be in your music collection. I was unsure if i’d love a Billie Eilish album as much as I do with this one, but she and Finneas are brilliant composers and I can’t wait to see more music videos being released to support the album visually.

If you want to purchase her album I’d recommend doing so from your local record shop or you can buy it at my local record shop Applestump Records here.

Enjoy listening and make sure to comment which is your favourite track below!

Beth x