Leah Niebuhr | Contributing Illustrator

Similar to the LaJoy’s matcha lattes (read: milk with matcha essence), beabadoobee’s newest album “Pylon” fell severely short of my expectations. Just as everyone at WashU seems to have the same closet, all the songs in “Pylon” could very well be each other’s doppelgangers.

“Pylon” was supposed to be a fresh start for the Filipino British singer-songwriter — a new indie rock vibe in contrast to her previous bedroom and alternative pop style. 

Singles “Switchblade” and “Sun Has Set” were released over the summer, garnering my excitement for her rebranding. “Sun Has Set” features a prominent drum and electric guitar instrumental throughout, while “Switchblade” is more bass heavy and less upbeat. The style difference between the aforementioned songs led me to believe that “Pylon” would be a hodgepodge of a variety of tracks. You can imagine my disappointment when I noticed that 11 of the 14 songs on the album feel far too similar, starting off slow and musical with primarily guitar and vocals and then transitioning to synths, electric guitar, and drums. 

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the majority of the songs, “Pylon” still has some bangers. “Memories” is my personal favorite because of its consistent energetic and upbeat vibe. “Sun Has Set” is a close second, as the electric guitar and drums throughout the song are very much head-bop-inducing. Every other song can fight for third through 14th place.

“Pylon” was definitely a rebrand. Was it a good rebrand? Not really. The album is just solid enough to demonstrate beabadoobee’s musical range as an artist. Although it certainly places her in the alternative rock circle, rather than creating waves with its release, she simply induced a few ripples.