At just 22, Billie Eilish has already established herself as a veteran pop star with three albums over a seven-year career. Exploring themes like life in the spotlight, complicated relationships, and her sexuality, this new body of work continues to showcase the maturity she gave us a glimpse of on Happier Than Ever.

Following their second Oscar win earlier this year for “What Was I Made For?” from the Barbie soundtrack, Billie and her brother and longtime collaborator, Finneas, continue to impress. The Telegraph hailed this new  album as “explicit, sapphic, and her best work yet,” while The Times praised its “confident and non-conformist” nature. Variety’s Chris Williams noted Eilish’s ability to craft “albums that really feel like albums,” comparing her latest work to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Artists Department. Williams highlighted that these albums invite immersion due to the artists’ world-building prowess

The synth pop, disco vibes paired with her gloomy voice instantly drew me in. It’s a step away from her usual doomsday music, while still keeping those lo-fi elements of hers that all her fans (aka me) all know and love her for. Delving back into that darkness and experimenting with new sounds — from a string quartet to shimmering dance-floor trance — makes Hit Me Hard and Soft Eilish’s best album yet. She explored belting on the title track of Happier Than Ever, but here she goes all out on several songs, silencing the “She’s just whispering” critics for good. Eilish’s blend of stylistic elements from different eras, tackling themes like coming out, body issues, and lesbian desire.

The album has such a cohesiveness that it’s more of a listening experience than a collection of songs. Billie and Finneas themselves describe the album as “an album-ass album,” emphasizing that it’s not your typical release. Finneas says, “when you discover a whole body of work that you enjoy listening to from start to finish. It’s much more fulfilling than just hearing a great song, when you realize, ‘Oh, wow, I get to cook my whole dinner listening to this album.’”

My first analysis includes “Bittersuite” and “The Diner”. Both tracks showcase Eilish’s playful imagination and whimsical storytelling. “Bittersuite” relies heavily on Finneas’ production and reflects the pressures of public life, while “The Diner” is a less serious, dark fantasy about a delusional stalker, reminiscent of her earlier hit “Bellyache.” “Chihiro” and “L’Amour de Ma Vie’ features a groovy, video game-like ambiance with catchy hooks, and the nostalgic cheekiness of Eilish’s early songs.

As someone who resonates with music that really gets me in my feelings, these next two tracks stuck out to me. “Blue” and “Wildflower” focus on mature themes and emotional introspection. “Blue” acts as a cumulative swan song that embraces beauty and pain, revisiting motifs from the album, while “Wildflower” showcases Eilish’s most mature songwriting, centering on her emotional struggle with a partner’s ex-girlfriend (IYKYK).

Both songs, “Lunch” and “Birds of a Feather”, explore relationships in unique ways. “Lunch” is a joyous expression of Eilish’s attraction to women, turning into a club-ready dance banger, while “Birds of a Feather” is a refreshing, simple love song that highlights Eilish’s powerful vocals. We love this lovey-dovey side of Billie.

“Skinny” and “The Greatest” reflect Eilish’s growth and self-acceptance. “Skinny” bridges reflections on stardom and self-image with newfound maturity, while “The Greatest” evolves from a ballad into a self-love anthem, celebrating her own self-worth and growth.

Critics (including us) are raving about this “bold and brilliant” new album. Billie  shared her excitement on Instagram, expressing that she and her brother poured their hearts into this project and have never loved anything more.

Each pair of songs on Hit Me Hard and Soft demonstrates Billie Eilish’s evolution as an artist, blending her signature style with new themes and mature perspectives. If you need us, we’ll be listening to this album on repeat for the foreseeable future.

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