beabadoobee - Pylon (2026)
A pleasant alternative rock album combining beabadoobee's delicate vocals and catchy melodies with distorted guitars, grunge influences and occasional heavier arrangements. The contrast between softness and aggression works particularly well on a few songs, although the rather conventional songwriting, uneven melodies and limited musical development make the album less memorable than it could have been.
With Pylon, beabadoobee moves further towards 1990s alternative rock, grunge and Midwest emo, leaving behind some of the softer bedroom pop influences of her earlier recordings. Across fourteen songs, she combines personal lyrics with distorted guitars, energetic rhythms and melodic choruses. The result is an enjoyable and occasionally surprising album, although one that doesn't always convince me.
What I appreciate most is the contrast between her soft voice and the heavier instrumentation. Her delicate singing works well against the distorted guitars, giving several songs an interesting balance between melody and aggression. The production is also effective, with some enjoyable guitar textures and a reasonably powerful sound. However, I often find the arrangements more interesting than the actual compositions.
The opening "Pylon" establishes a melancholic atmosphere with layered guitars and a gradual development. It's a pleasant introduction, although the melody doesn't leave a particularly strong impression. "Sun Has Set" is more energetic, combining distorted guitars with an immediate chorus. I appreciate its directness, but the songwriting remains relatively predictable.
"Estranged" returns to a softer approach, with delicate vocals and a familiar indie pop melody. It's pleasant enough, although I find it rather ordinary. "Switchblade", on the other hand, is my favourite track on the album. I particularly appreciate its more interesting guitar rhythms, the contrast between restrained verses and heavier passages, and the way the arrangement gradually becomes more aggressive. It's one of the few songs where the musical ideas develop convincingly.
"Write Me A Letter" is another enjoyable composition, combining a catchy melody with a heavier pop-punk arrangement. The contrast works well, although the song follows a rather familiar structure. "It's Alright" is more conventional, with pleasant guitars and a reasonably effective chorus, but doesn't offer much that distinguishes it from similar indie rock songs.
"In Motion" introduces some welcome variation, moving between softer passages and more energetic guitar-driven sections. I appreciate the ambition of the arrangement, although some transitions feel a little abrupt. "Memories" provides a quieter moment, with a nostalgic atmosphere and a pleasant melody. However, it doesn't leave a particularly lasting impression.
"Nothing To Prove", featuring Hayley Williams, brings some additional energy, and the combination of their voices is enjoyable. Nevertheless, I find the composition slightly disappointing considering the potential of the collaboration. The song feels rather short, and the melody isn't particularly memorable. "Radio" continues with a more straightforward alternative rock approach, but remains fairly anonymous.
"Powerlines", featuring Brendan Yates, is one of the stronger moments, mainly thanks to its heavier guitars and more dynamic arrangement. I appreciate the contrast between the vocal performances and the additional intensity, although the song could have benefited from a more developed structure. "Spark" introduces a darker atmosphere and some interesting guitar textures, but the songwriting remains relatively limited.
"Despite That" feels more like a brief interlude than a fully developed composition, while the closing "Satellite" offers a more atmospheric and ambitious arrangement. The contribution of Chino Moreno adds an interesting texture, and I appreciate the heavier passages, although the song doesn't quite build towards the memorable conclusion I was expecting.
My main problem is the inconsistency of the songwriting. There are several enjoyable melodies and some excellent guitar passages, but too many compositions rely on familiar alternative rock structures without offering anything particularly distinctive. The 1990s influences are obvious, and while beabadoobee brings her own vocal personality, the music often sounds a little too derivative.
I also find several songs insufficiently developed. Interesting guitar ideas and changes in intensity appear throughout the album, but they don't always lead anywhere particularly interesting. Some compositions end before they have established a strong identity, while others repeat the same musical ideas without enough variation.
The vocals are another limitation. I generally appreciate beabadoobee's delicate voice, particularly when contrasted with heavier guitars, but her restrained delivery can become rather monotonous across fourteen tracks. I would have appreciated more expressive performances, especially during the more aggressive compositions, where the music occasionally demands greater emotional intensity.
Ultimately, Pylon is a decent alternative rock album with some enjoyable guitar arrangements, pleasant melodies and a recognisable personality. I particularly appreciate "Switchblade", "Sun Has Set", "Write Me A Letter" and "Powerlines", where the combination of heavier instrumentation and melodic songwriting works best. However, its relatively conventional compositions, inconsistent melodies and lack of musical development prevent me from developing a stronger connection with the album. A good record with a few tracks worth keeping, but not one I find particularly memorable as a whole.
66/100
Playing time: 00:40:58
❤️ Favourite track: "Switchblade"
+ Enjoyable contrast between delicate vocals, catchy melodies and heavier grunge-inspired guitars
+ Several effective compositions, particularly "Switchblade", "Sun Has Set" and "Powerlines"
+ Good guitar textures, energetic arrangements and a more direct rock sound
– Conventional songwriting that relies too heavily on familiar 1990s alternative rock influences
– Several underdeveloped compositions and inconsistent melodies
– Restrained vocals and insufficient musical variety limit the emotional impact and replay value
Genre: Indie Rock
Country: UK
Final Verdict: 66% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 185th / 769
Highlight: Switchblade
Made me think of:
Wolf Alice
Soccer Mommy
Veruca Salt
#newalbum #newalbum2026 #albumrelease #newmusic #albumoftheday #nowspinning #NowPlaying #musicdiscovery
#IndieRock #beabadoobee #UK
#LP #Album #release
