REVIEW: BEABADOOBEE’S Brilliant Beatopia
Photo: Erika Camano
Beabadoobee ain’t playin’. Hot off the heels of her 2020 debut album Fake It Flowers, she’s back with its searing follow up, “Beatopia”.
Ever since Beatrice Lauss (her actual name) dropped her hazy-dreamy debut single “Coffee” in 2017, she’s gone from strength to strength. Having built on her raw, immersive sound and undeniably youthful lyrics with her 5 subsequent EPs and multiple releases, she’s earned well-deserved praise from the likes of The 1975, Harry Styles and even Taylor Swift.
While Fake It Flowers was a massive hit within the Eatmepoptart camp, we still knew that there was more up her sleeve. Beatopia takes the energy and attitude from Flowers up a notch, streamlining it into a formidable, focused sophomore effort that brings together the best of her sounds over the years.
Beatrice’s songwriting here is tighter than ever, reflecting a musical maturity that goes way beyond her years (she’s literally just 22!!). Whether she’s dialing up the distortion to 11 or kicking back on an acoustic, every song hits the spot, picking the perfect moments to either be introspective or just plain badass and sarcastic. Topped off with a slew of influences and styles, the 14-track-record makes for one heck of a rollercoaster you just don’t want to get off.
To showcase the dazzling array of sounds on Beatopia, we picked a couple of our favourite tracks to share with you. But trust us, if you don’t check out the rest of the album, you’re sorely missing out!
The Earworm - “10:36”
We know we’ve raved about this song already, but “10:36” is just too damn good to ignore, and a perfect intro to the album. Beatrice just bulldozes her way through with its infectiously guitar riffs and undeniable hook that still has us in complete awe when the track ends, ready to go all over again. You’re not gonna be able to get this track out of your head for weeks!
The Laid Back - “Sunny day”
“Sunny day” feels like the backseat rider on the album, but we feel it properly sets the stage for what’s to come. After 10:36 leaves your jaw on the floor, this track trades the burning energy for a chill summer cruise-with-the-top-down kinda bop. Funny thing is though, only after you go on to the next track will you realise that “Sunny day” was such a perfect fit and a sleeper hit.
Some part of us thinks there’s even a bit of a Britney Spears’ vibe to the instrumental, adding the perfect finishing touch to this breeze of a track.
The Wall of Sound - “Talk”
Drawing inspiration from 90s icons like Hole and Garbage, Beatrice fuzzes it up with an indulgent wall of sound that engulfs you right from the get go, as her vocals cleanly cut through the noise. By the time you hit the chorus, we’re 100% sure you’ll be jumping and headbanging as she nonchalantly sings “we make out, we make out when it’s too late / we go out, we go out, on a Tuesday”.
The Dreamy and Vulnerable - “Pictures of Us”
This dream-pop soother brings a very distinct vibe from the other songs, but it comes at just the right time. Beatrice takes a moment to really let her guard down for the first time on the album, vulnerably crooning about her hesitancy and insecurities. The beautiful lyrics are bolstered by a gorgeous steady soundscape of Beach House-esque dreamy guitars and synths, topped off with a gentle rhythm that ties the lovely track together. It’s one of our personal favourites on the record, and yet again another window into the endless array of styles Beatrice effortlessly incorporates into her work.
Beatopia finds itself presenting Beabadoobee at her very best, displaying the sheer range of genres she effortlessly traverses, while still being a sign that even more and better is yet to come. And while we already can’t wait for her next record, we’ll be happily spinning this one until then : ,) And PS. if you do check out the album, we’d love for you to tell us at the next Eatmepoptart event what you think of it!
