Billie Eilish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? (Album Review)

The most hotly anticipated pop album of the year has landed to possibly the best reception across the board since Lorde's "Pure Heroine", but is somehow bigger and more hyped. The question is- does it succeed in all that it tries so hard to be?

Ever since her popular 2017 "don't smile at me" EP which was basically an album in its own right, Billie has been growing her audience massively until she's become, next to Ariana Grande, the most buzzed-about female solo artist on the planet. The term solo with Billie is open to debate given the influence her brother has on producing and writing for the album and all that is achieved musically. He must not be forgotten when crediting/criticising this album, as he was responsible for so much of the creative and constructive process in creating this album. Now, into the review...

So. Billie Eilish. Where to start?

Well, the first track is a good a place as any. Titled "!!!!!!!", it's the fourteen second intro to the album that immediately sets almost a lighthearted, mocking, sarcastic take that completely contrasts with the melancholic and darker tones of the record. It couldn't not have been annoying, and I don't deny that it is, but that doesn't mean it isn't the perfect way to introduce a very post-millennial, zero generation view of our world. I may be looking too deep into this snap of an unfunny joke but I believe that there is arguably a case to be made for why this quote-on-quote song has a place on the album.

If my expectations weren't raised enough before listening to this album, they only heightened when I heard the first official track off it with "bad guy". A strong and entertaining cut that features a wiry strong synthline masterfully mocking the popularised EDM drop that characterises much of modern dance, pop and trap music. Unfortunately, the song succumbs to trends with a heavy, bassy trap transformation that is starkly and horribly contrasting the buildup in a very disappointing fashion. On top of all this, on further evaluation I can say that the lyrics to the track don't hold up on multiple in-depth listens and in particular the chorus grows to this irritating amalgamation of weak writing and poor lyrics that don't do justice to the tight melody at this point in the song. For the first time, I realised the term cringy could indeed be used to aptly describe a Billie Eilish song and I realised this album might not be all it promised from the get-go.

Moving on is the interesting "xanny", a take on the glamorisation of drugs in trap culture and the negative but vast influence on the youth culture that these frequent references are having. This brings up a bit of a consistent theme in this album- perhaps mocking songs are what Billie is presenting on "When We All Fall Asleep..."? Well, on the BBC Sherlock-inspired "you should see me in a crown", she writes from the perspective of the notorious consulting criminal Moriarty, his twisted mind bringing a unique and interesting take on a pop song that somehow ends up as the best banger she's released. This song has been a regular source of enjoyment for me since its release almost a year ago now. "all the good girls go to hell" and "my strange addiction" are continued standouts where her potent lyrics manage to be quirky, edgy and not at all cringy. They work in cliches that really shouldn't be entertaining but somehow demonstrate her points in simple, effective ways. Best of all, they deliver them with good, minimalistic beats and slick, tight production courtesy of Finneas O'Connell, her brother.

In terms of missing the mark, this album is not without its flaws and a song like "8" definitely does nothing for her vocals, usually their quietness works but the beat here is not successful in rising above ordinary trap-pop, the folkish flares also failing to elevate any aspect of the song and the lyrics really feeling forced and all too teenager-y (granted, she is only seventeen and much of this album was written at an earlier period of her life). Similarly, the slightly controversial "wish you were gay" does not entertain me with its annoying skitterish trap beat and flavourless bass. The melodies and rhythms in the verses too are frustratingly lacking the substance she accomplishes to such great heights on other tracks. The sentiment is there, but like all too many songs in this lane the execution failed it and it falls to the wayside of better songs.

Both "ilomilo" and "listen before i go" are expert songs, the former a shorter piece that sees an alternative sort of melody that emphasises the sweetness as apposed to the overplayed edginess in her natural vocal timbre, providing a gorgeous look at a direction I would love to see further pursued on a future project. The latter is by far the best ballad on the album, Billie's voice perfectly balanced by a sincere tone to her specific vocals and the instrumentation. This achieves an undeniably moving experience of a song that isn't afraid to put aside most of the creative experimentation that provides so much of the flare to so many of these songs.

Finally, the elephant in the room and perhaps the most divisive and, in my opinion, most overrated Billie Eilish song: "bury a friend". Yes, it has a great beat; yes the "anti-pop" experimentation is entirely amazing and darkness harboured by her tone of voice is well implemented and *so *much *more *praise *wow *amazing but... The lyrics are so ridiculously try-hard edgy and cool and it just doesn't fulfil me. I'll make the comparison to "bad guy" in that although many of the elements are impressive on there own they come together and are spoiled, ruined by the few but appalling missteps that are for me inexcusable and undeniably present. Still, despite its flaws it manages to be an enjoyable listen and a really unique song that only Billie (and Finneas) could have made.

To address the initial comparison I drew between Eilish and Lorde, the latter being renown for the gigantic influence on the current state of mainstream music she had with her acclaimed debut "Pure Heroine" that graced our ears back in 2013. That was an album that introduced minimalism in pop music to a wider generation of listeners, an album of sparse production and sceptical lyrics about our society from the perspective of Lorde as a teenager at the time. Undeniably, "Pure Heroine" was an intelligent and curious album with a pretty consistent tracklist and enough standouts to capture the attention and hearts of so many across the world. Billie is like the next progression of this, delivering a much needed step up into experimental territory that redefines what a hit actually has to be. I'd say that whilst Lorde's album is definitely more reliable in its quality and success it is perpetually less ambitious and for that reason I believe Billie Eilish has delivered the more interesting and, possibly even, better release.

In conclusion this may be one of the most intriguing and forward-thinking pop releases of the decade however - there are moments and songs that pull it back from the greatness it aspires too and therefore my rating must reflect that. Many, many things are done so right but there is a lacking of the diversity you would expect and almost need in an album as ambitious as this. Now, overall, I am awarding Billie Eilish and her official debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" a light 8 out of 10 and a definite recommendation. This album is worth multiple listens and its social and cultural importance may mark the beginning of a pivotal point in our music, who knows?

Best Songs:
you should see me in a crown, all the good girls go to hell, my strange addiction, ilomilo, listen before i go

Worst Song/s:
8, wish you were gay

And, for this album, I'm bringing back the Album Tracklist Rating segment in which I will give a rough ranking of all the songs on the album and their rating out of 10. Be warned this is definitely susceptible to future change, just look at my review of The Voidz' album "Virtue" where I ranked "Pink Ocean" and "We're Where We Were" towards the bottom (yes, I'm still hung up on that).

14. 8 - 2.5/10

13.  wish you were gay - 3/10

12. bad guy - 4/10

11. !!!!!!! - 5/10

10. goodbye - 5/10

9. when the party's over - 6/10

8. xanny - 7/10

7. bury a friend - 7/10

6. i love you - 7/10

5. all the good girls go to hell - 8/10

4. listen before i go - 8/10

3. you should see me in a crown - 8/10

2. my strange addiction - 9/10

1. ilomilo - 9/10

"WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?"

Billie Eilish

29/03/2019