Billie Eilish's Third Act: Expanding Her Sonic Vision with Finneas
by Abhilasha Bhattarai | May 15th, 2024
Photo by William Drumm | @williamdrumm
Billie Eilish teams up once again with her brother Finneas for their third collaborative album, diving deeper into their signature cool, dark soundscape. This latest project is a mix of raw honesty and ambitious creativity, though it occasionally falters into repetitiveness and inertia.
For the first time, Eilish enters an album release shrouded in relative mystery. Her previous works were preceded by a wealth of behind-the-scenes insights from yearly Vanity Fair interviews, candid documentaries, and even a Carpool Karaoke visit to her childhood home. This intimate connection fostered a strong parasocial relationship with her fans. Her 2021 album, "Happier Than Ever," was a reflection on the pressures of fame, showcasing a more reserved and mature Eilish compared to her explosive 2019 debut, "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" Following that, Eilish maintained a low profile, occasionally surfacing for high-profile projects like soundtracking a Pixar film and winning an Oscar before retreating to work on her next album.
Eilish describes her new album, "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT'' (HMHAS), as an “album-ass album,” drawing inspiration from Coldplay’s "Viva La Vida" and Vince Staples’ "Big Fish Theory." Like those records, HMHAS aims to showcase an expansive range, yet it lacks the external influences that pushed those artists into new territories. Finneas remains the primary creative force, with the addition of live drummer Andrew Marshall and the Attacca Quartet, orchestrated by Finneas and David Campbell. The album traverses from minimalist trance to stadium rock, retaining the dense vocal layers and inventive percussion that characterize Finneas’s production. However, it often feels like a bigger, yet not significantly different, version of their previous work.
HMHAS explores themes of falling out of love with a narcissist, as in "Blue," and Eilish’s first experiences of loving a woman. The opener, "Skinny," hints at another exploration of fame’s perils, reminiscent of "Happier Than Ever." Eilish’s public confirmation of her bisexuality has been a major talking point in the media, but on the album, she addresses it on her own terms, sidestepping past accusations of "queerbaiting." Tracks like "Lunch" stand out for their straightforward portrayal of sexuality, filled with playful double entendres and candid expressions.
At times, Eilish and Finneas's ambition shines. The moody "Chihiro" updates the uptempo vibe of early single "Bellyache" with lush synths. However, several multi-part suites feel like they’re revisiting old ground. Despite a powerful vocal performance from Eilish, "The Greatest'' struggles to escape the shadow of "Happier Than Ever." "Bittersuite'' starts with a promising dub intro but eventually transitions into a less compelling sequel to "Billie Bossa Nova." "L’Amour de Ma Vie" falls short with its chintzy synths and attempts at minimalist production, ultimately sounding like a bedroom demo rather than a stadium anthem.
Eilish delves into complex relationship dynamics with newfound maturity. "Wildflower" explores her feelings for her boyfriend’s ex, while "The Diner" offers a chilling perspective of a stalker, blurring lines between obsessive love and self-reflection. The album is filled with intricate details and narrative layers, making each listen a new experience.
While HMHAS contains moments of brilliance, its insistence on multipart epics and ballads often disrupts the album’s flow. Tracks like "Wildflower" and "The Greatest'' are compelling on their own but can feel overwhelming back-to-back. The much-touted live instrumentation often feels more like an add-on than a core element, and Jon Castelli’s saturated mix sometimes muddles the album’s intricate layers. Despite these issues, HMHAS remains a solid record from Billie and Finneas—captivating at times, but not quite the masterpiece it aspires to be.
In summary, Billie Eilish’s third album with Finneas sees her pushing boundaries while staying true to her roots. It's an honest exploration of love and fame, wrapped in their signature dark, inventive sound. Although it occasionally stumbles, HMHAS reaffirms Eilish's place in the pop landscape as a daring and evolving artist.
