By Audrey Elwood, Chief Columnist 

Beabadoobee’s (Bea) fourth album “Pylon” was released on Sept. 18, and wow, it was a doozy. Bea definitely changes up her softer sound to one that is grungier and edgier than before. 

Bea was one of the first major artists to come out of the TikTok bedroom pop era. Blowing up with “Coffee” while she was a mainstay in the genre, she went mainstream after the song was remixed in 2020 by Powfu. Recently, she has been roughing up her sound and really found her footing with her last two albums “Beatopia” and “This is How Tomorrow Moves.” 

“Pylon” is an album of heartbreak and sorrow; her three lead singles really set the tone. First, “The Sun has Set” was released around June, and this song is a breakup anthem. The overall theme of the song is cutting off an ex that you keep on going back to and denying the chance of reconciliation. With lyrics like “When I say, ‘We’ll never be friends’/I mean, we’ll never pretend/F*ck that, you can never run back to me now” and “The sun has set/There’s so much we left unsaid/And so much that you don’t get,” the hurt is palpable. The song is fast paced and angry. She is not trying to get this suitor back, she is setting the boundaries. This is definitely a standout. 

Her second single, “Memories,” is described by Bea as her “happiest song on the album,” focusing on the memories made with a past lover, and focusing on the good moments, not the hurt that is there. 

Within the song, there is a double entendre. The official lyrics are “Memories alive” however, in the pronunciation it is indistinguishable from “memories a lie.” While she can reminisce, she knows that this past is simply a farce. This is not the present in actuality. 

Overall, the album relies on a grungier-rock sound that is clearly inspired by Deftones and The 1975. In fact, Matty Healy and George Daniel helped produce “Write me a Letter,” with Healy providing backing vocals on the song. However, this song in particular was underwhelming. The lyricism is just not there, especially in comparison to Healy and Daniel’s usual output. 

Hayley Williams from Paramore was featured on “Nothing to Prove.” While lyrically unassuming, the melodies together are great. Williams brings a kick and really adds to the it factor of the album. 

There are standout songs, but the album does not feel fully cohesive. You can listen to it in any order, and the only general overarching theme is heartbreak. This is ok but could have been easily fixed. Many songs end up fading into the background and can feel like fillers at times. 

Pylon is not some deep, intricate and astounding album; it is a breakup album laced with anger and hurt. While so much of the music today is about healing and therapy-speak, Beabadoobee gives us the raw intensity that heartbreak demands. Do not turn on this album in front of your friend who just broke up with their situationship – or maybe do, they need to get it out. Beabadoobee delivers with “Pylon” where it is needed.