Beabadoobee sends a letter through Fourth Album, "Pylon"
BY: CARESSE LIANG / MANAGING EDITOR
Trying to get loose and lose it, just to lose my head.
Filipino-born singer-songwriter Beabadoobee released her fourth album, Pylon, on Sep. 18. Through the UK independent label Dirty Hit, this album serves as a beautiful and honest letter about her inner turmoil as both a singer and a person living in London.
Beabadoobee, also known as 26-year-old Beatrice Laus, ties in 90s grunge and rock to express her difficult emotions while being away from home and her anxiety about identity crisis. Through its namesake, Pylon symbolizes the electrical towers she sees when she’s on tour, connecting her back to home in London with family and friends.
The album, composed of 14 songs, is thoughtfully constructed with energizing drums, ripping harmonics, and a blend of acoustic and electric guitar. There is a balance between its brash, rough electric sound to the slow echoes of acoustic rhythm.
Alongside its composition, Beabadoobee collaborates with notable alternative-rock artists like Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Title Fight’s Shane Moran, and one of her personal favorites, Evan Stephens Hall from Pinegrove.
The track list includes features from Williams and Turnstile’s Brendan Yates on “Nothing To Prove” and “Powerlines.”
The opening titular track, “Pylon,” is a melancholic pop-rock song where Beabadoobee’s acoustic guitar speaks about the metaphor between the electrical towers and her close romance with her partner.
The lyrics, “At least we're connected/Like a pylon on an open road,” resonate with the overall theme of the album, and that makes it all interpersonal. It is a continuation of her recent style over the years: a soft appreciation of her personal relationship while she’s away, with breathy vocals and delicate strumming of her guitar.
“Sun Has Set,” is the second song, led by a powerful electric melody. It was the first to be released with an accompanying music video. A harsh switch from the title track, “Sun Has Set” is grungy and rough. It features drums, electric guitars, and harsh vocals, which all blend together to create a lyrical masterpiece.
Beabadoobee spoke with BBC Radio 1, citing this song as “the perfect example of [her] having tunnel vision with just one particular feeling.” It describes the rage of a relationship of superficiality and a lack of understanding.
This song pairs well with other songs like “Nothing To Prove,” sung with Williams, and “Radio.” They represent a period of anger and frustration from a supposed relationship. The grind through its clear vocals strengthens the internal turmoil of Beabadoobee’s homesickness; she seeks someone who understands her in the way that she wants, and she feels suffocated by the thought.
The album then switches to “Powerlines,” featuring Yates. This is another song that brings up the vivid messaging of the electrical lines. Beabadoobee continues to portray the sense of confusion and desperation caused by her previous reliance on coping mechanisms.
‘“I was never sober. I would do anything to make myself feel OK enough to be able to survive being away from home,” she commented for Elle.
This song shares the same messaging with “Satellite” and “Write Me a Letter,” where the punchy tones of the instruments make listeners feel stuck with her. It resonates with the emotional weight of what Pylon is supposed to be: an album that personally represents Beabadoobee beneath her artist persona.
Out of all 14 songs, “Switchblade” stands out with a slow, off-kilter rhythm. Her vocals are monotone and evoke the essence of the 90s rock theme. This song specifically makes her sound exhausted, yet upset.
It is the only song that features an echoing backtrack, ending as it repeats itself over. The messaging changes to an expression of isolation, where she compares herself to a “switchblade” that cannot fit. Simply put, Beabadoobee felt disconnected from what she saw herself to be on stage—and off-stage.
Overall, Pylon is a wonderful representation of what Beabadoobee is as a singer-songwriter. With an average rating of 7.4/10 and four stars, Beabadoobee’s newest entry is an excellent message to both her fans and herself. While it is not musically acclaimed like others, this album is much more than meets the eye.
8.2/10
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