With an opening track dubbed “Skinny,” Billie Eilish ushers in her third album release, Hit Me Hard and Soft. Displaying her quintessential style, the song unfurls with a muted electric guitar riff that cradles lyrics laden with themes of body image issues, broken relationships, the burdens of global fame at a young age, and depression. This seems to reference her sophomore album, Happier Than Ever, which sold less than her debut, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? going platinum in ten countries as opposed to the debut’s sixteen. The album’s less dominating presence of electronic gothic tracks, previously instrumental in her rise to fame, and her transformation from a sulky skater girl to a 1950s blonde bombshell, seemed to lose listeners. However, considering Eilish’s ruminations on fame, perhaps this was the intended effect.
Her latest album has no pre-released singles and commences in a similar tone to its predecessor. The initial tracklist is subtle, featuring acoustic guitar strumming and plucking in the bright-hued backdrop, accompanied by understated string arrangements and a restrained mid-tempo beat on the track “Chihiro,” where Eilish delves into the uncertainty surrounding a relationship’s status, questioning if the spark has indeed vanished or if there’s still a chance to rekindle the flame. Billie and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, provide production that delves into hidden nuances; their backing vocals and sound effects are so profoundly embedded into the mix that only keen headphone listeners can discern them.
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The collection’s most vibrant track, “Lunch,” serves up a distorted drum machine, ska-infused guitar, and a sudden EDM bass eruption, underlining a celebration of lesbian love. Eilish’s voice carries an audible grin, a stark departure from her trademark teenage broodiness.
The album is rich with gorgeous melodies and lyricism, like in “Birds of a Feather,” where she pledges her love until “I rot away, dead and buried … in the casket that you carried.”
Yet, the subtlety of Hit Me Hard and Soft might be its downfall, as seen in the easy-to-forget Wildflower.
An unexpected dramatic shift occurs halfway through the album. The mood chills and the songs become more episodic, growing introspective and veering off from their original course. Eilish’s vocal style morphs, lyrics change pace, and the narrative unfolds from unrequited love to a murderous twist.
The soft rock vibe of “L’Amour de Ma Vie” is transformed by a sharp beat and a bubbling synth bass reminiscent of Joe Jackson’s 1982 hit “Steppin’ Out.” Before diving into the music, Eilish’s vocal is altered to sound like she’s recounting a doomed love affair in a mocking, almost childlike voice.
“The Diner” combines eerie vocals with a reggae-like rhythm drenched in echo. The song then unexpectedly slows down, morphing into a haunting show tune as the lyrics depict a love story gone murderous.
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“Bittersuite” features thick synthesizer chords that grow more intense until they completely take over the song, ending with a dark, instrumental finish.
“Blue” seems to be about a relationship with a troubled celebrity, someone “too afraid to step outside, paranoid and petrified of what you’ve heard.” The song swings between empathy for the celebrity and frustration over their inability to cope. This indecisiveness is mirrored in the rhythm track, which sputters in and out, creating a haunting effect.
Recurring phrases throughout the latter part of the album add enigma, commenting on or advancing the events previously presented. A line about feeling trapped from the song Skinny reemerges in “Blue,” adding layers of intrigue to an album designed to keep the listener on their toes.
Hit Me Hard and Soft doesn’t cater to the fast-paced pop sphere where listeners seek immediate satisfaction. Instead, it invites a slow unraveling, an audacious move that keeps the audience curious and engaged.
