Phoebe Bridgers last released a solo album six years ago, during the peak of the Covid pandemic. Her album, “Punisher,” not only garnered critical acclaim, finishing 2020 on many best-of lists, but also reached the UK Top 10 and sold over half a million copies in the US. Since then, Bridgers has experienced considerable commercial success. The debut album of Boygenius, the group she formed with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, has transitioned from a niche supergroup to a mainstream success, winning three Grammy Awards. Bridgers also achieved recognition for her collaboration with SZA on “Ghost in the Machine,” making her the standout winner at the 2024 Grammy ceremony. Additionally, she contributed her vocals to projects by other prominent artists, including Taylor Swift’s re-recorded “Red,” Lorde’s “Solar Power,” and Paul McCartney’s “McCartney III Imagined.”
However, the opening track of her new album, “Lost Weekend,” suggests a deeper emotional struggle. “The Outside” portrays Bridgers crowd-surfing at a concert in Ohio, celebrating with a raised fist, yet she reveals, “But I was on the outside, watching.” This line, combined with a vocoder that distorts her voice and a fleeting acoustic guitar melody submerged in ambient sound, accentuates her feelings of alienation.
The album reflects her emotional turmoil, stemming from her father’s death, with whom she had a complicated relationship, as well as the end of her highly publicized engagement to actor Paul Mescal. The title track confirms the rumors about their engagement, with Bridgers singing, “I’m supposed to be married but I called it off.” Fans of celebrity gossip will find ample material within the lyrics, including a potentially pointed reference to Mescal’s current partner, Gracie Abrams, in “The Governor’s Waltz.” The line suggests a sense of competition, stating, “she can pretend to be me / Since she took my place in my bed, on that stage.”
Nevertheless, the album’s emotional resonance transcends mere celebrity intrigue. “The Governor’s Waltz” delivers a poignant examination of a relationship nearing its end, while the chaotic energy of “Bobby” captures the exhilarating early stages of love, featuring a line about moving on from a vibrator: “a thing in a box I don’t fuck anymore.” Meanwhile, “Still Standing” conveys the unsettling experience of grappling with the expected grief following a parent’s death, as Bridgers searches for cherished memories but instead recalls painful experiences, ultimately expressing indifference: “I am my old man’s oldest son, / I fought the wall and the wall won.”
Bridgers’ lyrical prowess shines throughout “Lost Weekend,” complemented by its distinctive sound. The album is fundamentally a well-crafted Americana-infused indie project, characterized by the anticipated acoustic guitars, mandolins, and melancholic violin. Collaborators include Jack Antonoff, her Boygenius bandmates, Jon Brion, Alex G, and Conor Oberst. However, the most striking elements are the “sound design” credits, as much of “Lost Weekend” features traditional indie instrumentation struggling against layers of electronic sound, distortion, and haunting, wordless vocals.
Tracks often shift dramatically in tone, diving into silence or enveloped in a surreal echo, with unexpected endings that evoke varied emotions. The closing of “Kill Me” expresses a desire for disappearance, referencing the unidentified Somerton Man found in 1940s Adelaide, while the title track bursts into exuberance. This disorienting yet thrilling soundscape is particularly evident in “Panorama,” where a beautiful melody is almost overwhelmed by discordant elements.
The result is a compelling, sometimes heart-wrenching album infused with a glimmer of hope. The straightforward “Never Going Back!” emphasizes change, repeating the sentiment that “the way it used to be is not the way it is,” against an energetic indie-rock backdrop. “As Above” presents a positive perspective on the inevitable fading of romance, affirming, “You’re gonna take me for granted but I can handle it.”
Bridgers sings, “The past is looking brighter all the time” in “Liberty Tree,” reflecting a challenging journey that transforms into a rich and rewarding exploration. “Lost Weekend” is set to be released on August 14.
