By Rory McNelley, Head Copy Editor 

On Aug. 14, Phoebe Bridgers ended her six-year hiatus with the release of “Lost Weekend.” Containing 16 tracks, the long-awaited album is diverse and engaging.  

Bridgers is known for her powerful lyrics and melancholy style. This album has more upbeat tracks, but the lyrics are just as deep and thought-provoking.  

My personal favorite, “Never Going Back!” repeats the same lyrics “never going back again / the way it used to be is not the way that it is,” but at the end Bridgers includes a voicemail from her father. The addition of the voicemail adds a layer of meaning to the lyrics repeated at the beginning of the track.  

The repetitive nature of the first section of the song acts as a mantra signaling that Bridgers is trying to convince herself that she is never going back. The voicemail begs the question of what exactly she is not returning to, leaving the song up to interpretation.  

“Lost Weekend,” “Kill Me” and “Haunted” have the best lyrics on the album.  

“Lost Weekend” is anything but a traditional breakup song. Lyrics like “youknow me, and I’ll never forgive you for that” and “I think I know why you’ve been blowing me off” signal a rocky relationship while lyrics like “It’s gonna be alright, we’ll make it through” demonstrate Bridgers’ acceptance.  

What makes this song unique is her owning up to her mistakes in the relationship. She frames herself and the other person both being not completely innocent in the downfall of the relationship.  

“Haunted” has an upbeat melody and features her friends and former bandmates from “boygenius,” Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. The song is essentially about being haunted by things of the past; this theme clashes with the upbeat and rootsy vibe of the song.  

The song reflects Bridgers’ range from her “Punisher” era melodies to a new and warm bluegrass influence. She can write about grief without sounding completely devastated with lyrics like “no, I’m not afraid” and “my heart is rolling either way.” 

One of the most classic Bridgers-style songs on the album is “Kill Me.” The beginning’s intimate and fragile feel reflect her earlier music from “Stranger in the Alps” but as the song progresses it gradually becomes more chaotic.  

The lyrics include classic themes of love, self-destruction, humor and emotional dependence that have been heard since Bridgers’ debut.  

The production of this song is what brings it to life. Moments of silence and quick, sudden changes make it feel unpredictable and messy in a good way. This song really represents why Bridgers’ music is so compelling: she can take an incredibly specific, painful emotion and make it sound enormous.  

“Lost Weekend” weaves together themes of grief, love and conflicting emotions making it an album that is both deeply personal and open to interpretation. Bridgers’ ability to combine lyrics with diverse musical styles makes this album worth the wait.