At: Beabadoobee's "This Is How Tomorrow Moves."
a change of pace on my idea of beabadoobee. Brief, and loving.
I remember the first time I saw her name on my screen while I scrolled through Twitter a few years back. It was distinct enough for me to remember it as she lingered in the corners of my music habits by sharing a label with the 1975 (who I was a big fan of at the time) and spending tons of time with Matty Healy, while also making a name for herself in the indie genre that I consume very rarely. Her name is as confusing as it is distinct, which has made her memorable throughout the years, but I have still remained distant enough to be clueless about pronouncing it. Regardless, I always thought she was cute and interesting, but for whatever reason, it did not hook me the way I wanted to be hooked back when I was seventeen. Now, she’s massive, and “This Is How Tomorrow Moves” is an indication of that. I am way more open to the indie genre now than I was at seventeen, especially after the singles she has been releasing off of this album, therefore, I am ready to listen.
This Is How Tomorrow Moves - the album
top three
take a bite - I had already listened to this track and I still love it. the chorus so reminiscent of the 00s sound that fits bea like a glove with the heavier instrumentals in the album. a personal must-listen, tbh.
california - could not have a better intro that I immediately knew would capture me into loving the track, and it did. the production on this track is so energetic and fun, as it keeps pushing into this modern indie sound that feels so defining of the 2020 sound.
post - it just has to be in the top three. i might be biased since all my favorites off of the album fit within a specific corner of the realm bea is creating, but this song is back into the heaviness that combines with the angelic vocals that I really like. and the bridge is insane. this might literally be my favorite track, i can’t lie. but it is different than the majority of it while the other corners are just as good and expressive as “post” is.
honorable mentions
one time - a slower track but a nice change of pace from the heaviness as it remains floaty and catchy in a specific beabadoobee way that is so magnetic. the ending of the song I can see being a fun part to perform on tour and seeing the crowd having a moment.
a cruel affair - the type of beach song that i long for and now i have found. it is so groovy and catchy, that you can basically see the scenery bea paints throughout the entire album in just one track. and again, the instrumentals are so well done and the production so clean, alongside insane lyrics.
beaches - this track was so close to making it into my top three, it is that good. it feels like it’s showcasing the change in rhythm this beabadoobee’s music might be leaning towards. it’s energetic and so catchy, I could see myself playing this constantly as it is so easy to love.
the writing is so good, it caught me off guard.
real man - mothers and upbringing while hating on men feels so relatable and clever. somehow the melodic structure takes me back to country influences as the song has a hint of folk, and it fits the really cool lyrics bea comes up for the concept of the song. I especially like the last section, but all the lyrics in this song are a highlight to me.
tie my shoes - another deeply vulnerable track with awesome lyrics with hints of country lingering on the instrumentals. it’s stripped-down indie music but as floatingly vulnerable as bea’s world that makes you see her point of view so clearly through her lyrical motifs.
girl song - insane voice, super sad, made for the girls. it even changes the pace of the album even further by bringing in only a piano to support this blunt vulnerability, and it’s striking. it’s a ballad, and it surprised me, and I love it.
this is how it went - i absolutely love the lyrics of this song and it showcases just how good bea is at writing.
these are all in their own world..
coming home
ever seen
everything i want
the man who left too soon
Overall, this was such a solid album to listen to that I would gladly revisit so many times until I’ve found everything I missed on the first listen. The instrumental sections and guitars throughout the album are so engaging, and I am almost sure they used the same two producers for all tracks, so they really pulled through to make it as dynamic as the album is. I also think she literally wrote all the songs by herself which is another insane move that I love. It could be an indicator to why the album feels so expressive and down to earth as it is the same people on the credits every time I check.
(a part of me wants to mention some of the 1975 influences I can feel radiating off of this record at times but I only will as a side note since it is simply offensive putting two artists side by side).
Now, after loving the album, I am on my way to watching her Zane Lowe 44-minute interview.
Extra:
the song she put out with Laufey is so underrated.
her voice is absolutely insane in this:
thank you for reading <3