Indie singer beabadoobee graced our humble ears with her fourth extended play Space Cadet on Oct. 14, 2019 and I have been listening to it nonstop.
The EP consists of five songs that revolve around escapism through space travel. Beabadoobee, also known as Bea Kristi, draws inspiration from the 90s indie rock of her childhood for the project.
If I haven’t made it clear already, I absolutely love this album. I think all of the songs on it are super fun to listen to no matter how I’m feeling. I also think that her soft soprano voice provides a lovely contrast to the grungy rock sound.
The first song on the album is “Are You Sure,” a song about feeling misunderstood. The lead guitar slowly fades in as if inviting the viewer in and as the verse begins, the drums come in and darken the sound. Kristi’s lyrics are blunt, which adds to the frustrated mood of the song. They also add a sense of honesty to the song, which I like for songs like these. It reminds me of my angsty teen days, but in the best way.
Although it’s not my favorite song on the album, “Are You Sure” makes a really enjoyable listen.
The second track is also the second single from the EP, “I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus.” The song not only serves as a love letter to 90s indie band Pavement, but as a testament to unapologetic change. The verses have a slow groove to them, but the chorus brings a lot of energy and also heavy guitar riffs. The lyrics are also relatable to me. I know I’ve changed a lot in the past few years since coming to college, and I definitely like who I’m becoming, so I really relate to that sentiment.
After that comes “Sun More Often,” which is probably my favorite track on the EP. “Sun More Often” is about leaving your comfort zone to improve your life. Throughout the song, she uses the line “go out and see the sun more often” to pound this message into the listener’s mind. I really like the instrumental break in the middle of the song; it gives me the image of the sun breaking out from behind the hills and creating a beautiful, bright orange sunrise. The song never fails to make me feel calmer when I’m upset or nervous.
It’s also a message I’ve been trying to incorporate into my own life. I didn’t take a lot of risks or try new things in the past, but I’m trying to break out of my shell a bit now that I’m older. So far, it’s been a pretty good idea. It’s brought me cool people and experiences so far, so there’s to more to come.
The next is Kristi’s first single from the project, “She Plays Bass.” I’ve been meaning to write about this song this whole semester, and I’m so excited that the opportunity has finally come.
“She Plays Bass” is dedicated to Kristi’s bass-playing buddy Eliana. She describes their relationship in Genius’s verified lyric commentary as one where they “get pretty mental sometimes and at times [she] just feels like [they’re] in a bubble because no one really gets [them].” I like her decision to write about a friend for a single, as I don’t feel like I see that often. Friendship is so important, and it’s refreshing to see it so valued.
The song starts with a soft and dreamy vibe, with Kristi’s soft vocals accompanied by electric guitar. As the chorus begins, the drums pick up and make for an absolute bop. I can’t help but bob my head along to the beat when I listen to it. The chorus is repetitive, which makes it stick in your head for hours. There’s also a lovely guitar solo in the bridge that carries into a calmer bridge. That calm is quickly pushed to the side to bring about an explosive outro. Overall, I think it’s a great single and great song overall.
The final track is “Space Cadet.” This upbeat song brings the album full circle, as similarly to “Are You Sure,” the lyrics talk about her feeling misunderstood. In “Space Cadet,” however, Kristi ends the song on a more positive note by choosing to let go of her worries rather than let them hold her down.
I really like the synths in the beginning of the song. They lend well to the space imagery, as they remind me of a spaceship nearing liftoff. The song is a bit lighter than earlier songs on the album, and it makes me feel pretty warm and fuzzy. I know I said “Sun More Often” was my favorite song on the album, but “Space Cadet” is also my favorite. It just be like that.
Overall, Space Cadet is a lovely EP. It’s short and sweet, and such an easy listen. If it’s your kind of sound, it’s definitely worth a listen.
