If you opened social media or entered any retail store this spring, you likely couldn’t escape PinkPantheress and her popular collaboration with Grammy-nominated Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2.” The English singer, 22, went viral in 2021 after posting clips of her songs on TikTok. After her debut single “Break It Off” and subsequent hits “Just for Me” and “Pain,” she dropped out of university and signed to a record label to release more music.
I wouldn’t say I’m knowledgeable about PinkPantheress, but I undoubtedly know her music. Online, you often can’t escape it. Her sound is marked by delicate vocals, earworm lyrics, and drum-and-bass beats; most songs are two minutes long, making them both easily digestible and frustratingly brief. (Don’t get it twisted. Several are mainstays in my music library.)
Despite her singles gaining millions of streams over the last two years, it’s taken until this fall to get a full album from the singer. On Nov. 10, ahead of opening for Olivia Rodrigo on tour next year, she released “Heaven knows.” The record has 13 songs and clocks in under 35 minutes, making for a cohesive and quick listen.
“Another life (feat. Rema)” opens with a gothic organ before the beat drops, U.K. garage-inspired drums riding through the rest of the track. Her vocals are clear and quick, and the chorus is simple but incredibly catchy. Rema’s backing adlibs blend well with Pink’s airy tone, and even though his feature is not as compelling lyrically, the dissonance between their vocals adds an extra layer to the track.
The next track, “True romance,” features a paparazzi camera sequence at the beginning and quickly bursts into guitar and a clapping beat. She’s very British in this one. Anyway, I love the hook again — she’s allergic to having a bad chorus — but the production is very repetitive. “Mosquito,” released as a single in September, might be my least favorite of the album, not because it’s the worst, but because it’s overwhelmingly filler. It 100 percent sounds like a PinkPantheress song, but I’ve already forgotten the melody 30 seconds later — although I do enjoy the mosquito buzzing at 1:28.
“The aisle” sounds nearly the same as the previous track but has a heavier beat and more percussive production. I love the heavy bass of the intro before the drop and the house influence in the pre-chorus. However, the 8-bit disco sound distracts from the sentimental lyrics. I wish it had been more minimalistic versus plain, but a rare three-minute track? I’ll take the win.
“Nice to meet you (feat. Central Cee)” is the main feature track of the album, and the production is some of the highest quality. The throbbing bass and subtle explosions are very effective, and the lyrics are strong despite their simplicity. While her sweet storytelling about a relationship is compelling, the rap feature, unfortunately, fell flat for me, especially since his lyrics are about infidelity and feel disjointed by comparison. Another exceedingly British track.
Luckily, it’s followed by “Bury me (feat. Kelala),” one of the best on the record. I love the chirping birds in the intro. While the U.K. drill beat is aggressive and driving, her voice floats on top of the instrumental; the vocal layering and repeated echoes are gorgeous. Kelala’s verse is smooth and alluring, and when she takes over the echoes of Pink’s lines, the track feels perfect… and ends at 2:05.
I was a bit peeved by that choice when “Internet baby (interlude)” was seven seconds longer. Instead of discussing this track for longer than I want to, I’ll admit it’s definitely pretty but ultimately forgettable. “Ophelia” brings the quality back up, with a delicate harp opening the track and the beat unfolding slower than most of the album but still hard-hitting. The lyrics are also singularly melancholic, with Pink singing as the titular tragic Shakespeare character. While not my favorite, I fully acknowledge it’s one of the stronger songs on the album.
Sadly, “Feel complete” is another track I wish I enjoyed more. The beat and chorus are simplistic, and while some critics have called this classic, I find it leans a bit elementary. I still like the straightforward lyrics; the interspersed orchestral synths are lovely, too. Unfortunately, the music itself feels like an elevated iMovie track.
The final third opens with “Blue,” with complex verses and a repetitive chorus, discussing healing and the art of moving on. The second verse picks up with double-time vocals, which remain the most memorable part of the song. It’s pleasant background listening, albeit a little forgettable, but consistent with the rest of the album.
While the last few tracks failed to sell me, “Feelings” certainly does. The early 2000s R&B grime beat is murky and gnarly while still her typical glossy pop. Likewise, with the more robust production, her vocals are much more powerful, and the darker sound makes it a standout on the otherwise light album. The anxiety-ridden lyrics and rapid piano outro are two shining qualities, making it one of my indisputable favorites.
Also fantastic is the single “Capable of love,” clocking in at the practically epic length of 3:43. Who are you, and what have you done with PinkPantheress? I’ve been listening to this song for weeks and can’t get enough of it. The instrumental is celestial and synth-ridden; it scratches an itch in my brain with its turbulent production, which keeps building throughout the track to an explosive, layered, and percussive final third. If you have one takeaway from this review, you could ignore the rest of the album and listen to this song on repeat, and I’d consider my job as a writer well done.
Finally, the Grammy snub of a lifetime, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2.” This song was ubiquitous on every social media platform earlier this year, so I’m shocked by the lack of acknowledgement by the Recording Academy. The production is killer, the melodies are easily stuck in your head, and the feature from Ice Spice is equally hilarious and addictive, propelling the song with quirky offbeats and catchy lyrics. I’m glad it found a spot on the album.
My favorite tracks after my first few listens: “Capable of love,” “Bury me,” “Feelings,” “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2,” and “Another life (feat. Rema).”
The music is charismatic, and the lyrics depict PinkPanthress’ (often macabre) love, anxiety, and mild obsession. Its production is more expansive and lush than her previous records despite retaining her usual soundscape. However, the best tracks are the ones that push the boundaries of her typical sound in a darker direction, and they’re unfortunately rare. Since the rest aren’t too diverse sonically, most of the album’s cohesion reads as several barely different iterations of the same song. I’m excited to see her continue to explore bigger, crazier sounds on future projects.
Overall, it’s a solid 7/10 album. When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s forgettable, it’s still pretty good. I’ll listen to most of these songs as background noise because they don’t demand or pull a lot of attention, and if that’s your speed, then you’ll like this album plenty.
I have two final thoughts. The first: I am all for keeping songs from dragging on way too long, but I can’t keep doing these 2:15 tracks. Please make them longer on the regular. They’re usually better. Please. The second: Please stream her soundtrack song “Angel” from “Barbie: The Album.” Missed opportunity for the record.
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