Album Review: Blondshell by Blondshell

By Cecelia Moore

Music Journalist

The moment I heard Blondshell’s music, I knew it was a soulmate-type of connection. In Feb. 2023, I saw Blondshell open for Suki Waterhouse on her “Coolest Place in the World Tour,” while entirely unaware of what I would witness. I was lucky enough to hear Blondshell’s debut album live before half of it had been released. Ever since that day last year, these songs have been repeating in my headphones weekly.

Blondshell’s self-titled album is a female take on a male-dominated genre. Her grungy alternative rock style is expertly combined with uniquely feminine anxiety, intuition, sensitivity and love in her lyrics. These themes are seen throughout the album on tracks like “Kiss City,” “Salad” and “Joiner.” The album is full of anxious thoughts we have all had but been too afraid to address — things like knowing your friends are bad for you, or the person you are seeing is “a d**k” but “at least it’s the obvious kind.” Although Blondshell is her debut album, it feels far from it. Her storytelling is authentic and raw. Listeners are dropped right in the middle of her ongoing life, feeling what led her to these songs.

A great example of this is the track “Tarmac.” The song starts held back and anxious, with a dramatic beat drop at the chorus. Blondshell sings “I can’t stay away from my new friends / I think that I’m losing myself / I’m in love with a feeling / Not with anyone or any real thing.” The drums kick in and emphasize this crushing reality. Her rough cadence and tone emphasize this feeling, with the music driving it home. My favorite part of this song is the moment of wishful thinking, trying to escape reality while singing “Can I laser cut / A hole in the ground / Having a thought of laying me down on the tarmac.” Listeners are sent right back into the chorus, a moment of escapism where not existing feels better than the facts at hand.

My personal favorite track is titled “Sepsis.” The opening line is my favorite opening lyric of all time. “I’m going back to him,” immediately followed by “I know my therapist’s pissed.” The song speaks of being in a self-inflicted one-sided relationship and rejecting the notion that you can do better. “The sex is almost always bad / I don’t care ‘cause I’m in love / I don’t know him well enough,” is the thesis of the song. “It should take a whole lot less to turn me off” is the anthem of dating as a young woman who’s been conditioned to vie for men’s attention.

The extended version of the album features a song titled “Cartoon Earthquake,” originally a Spotify exclusive that was later released as a part of Blondshell (Deluxe Edition). This song is an incredibly sweet yet insecure love song, taking an upbeat, fittingly cartoonish sound. The lyrics are trusting that this person will be there for you despite your flaws. “You wanna put me in your pocket / And take me around / But I’ll get heavy / You’ll have to put me down,” illustrates this perfectly. The bridge builds into a dirty powerful lead guitar, agreeing with the lyrics that these two people are not perfect. Mellowing back out into the chorus. “A cartoon earthquake now / It’s me that you’d run after / And jump that gap / To get to my half,” is the sweetest lyric to me, unexpectedly utilizing a common trope. I never get enough of this song, and it will make you an instant Blondshell fan.

Blondshell is an incredible debut album with every song playing an important role in the narrative. Blondshell’s 90’s rock sound is stellar and unshakable. This album is an instant favorite and an absolute must-listen. Blondshell’s star power is impossible to ignore, securing her spot as one to watch.