This Is How Tomorrow Moves, is the third album from Filipino-British alternative singer-songwriter, Beabadoobee, real name Beatrice Laus. She’s the second artist I’ve reviewed this year that is younger than me, which no matter how many times I do that, it will always feel weird to me, even if Beabadoobee is only a year younger than me. I’m used to all the artists I write about being older than me, but there’s tons of new and exciting young artists that make new music everyday, so I’ll get used to it. Anyways, critics have said this is a departure from her previous albums, being, quote, “her first adult album,” due to the new lyrical concepts. Aside from being a singer, she’s also a talented guitarist. I was looking forward to this review for most of the week, here are my thoughts.

     I will begin by saying that the singles on this record are incredibly strong. “Take a Bite,” has this really cool mix of acoustic and electric guitars, and production wise it has a folksy, sunny vibe to it. “California,” has an indie rock sound, and it really fits the title of the song, with those reverb-heavy electric guitar power chords, and crashing drums. There’s a lot of gentle, soft ballads on this album, like “One Time,” and “Real Man,” which contain a lot of quiet instrumentation. They have a lot of themes of love, and the complicated nature of relationships, which, isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, but the lyrical themes are relatable and genuine. “Tie My Shoes,” is a track with good familial theme. It’s actually a bit sad, because it features lyrics about her dad, where she sings, “Waiting for you, to tie my shoes,” which insinuates that her dad was absent from her life, when she was growing up. The lyricism on this album isn’t super complex, but you can hear the emotions in Laus’ voice when she sings. Another track with a non-romantic theme, is “Girl Song,” where Laus talks about her insecurities. It’s another song that’s pretty heartbreaking, and the melancholy piano featured in the track, really hammers the message of struggling with body image home to the listener. It reminds me of when Charli xcx sung about this same topic in “sympathy is a knife.” This track feels as real and relatable as that track was. The vulnerability Laus shows on this track, is something I’m happy to see, as more and more pop artists are talking about self-image and body positivity. On a happier note, “Coming Home,” is a classic road trip song. Apparently, she wrote this song while she was on tour, away from her two pet cats, and her boyfriend. I like the positive and down-to-earth lyrics of the track, as well as the whirly synths and warm vocal harmonies. The trumpet solo is also a nice touch. I’ve touched on the relatability of her lyrics, but hearing lines such as, “I’ll do the dishes, we’ll carry the load. Because we have time. I emptied the trash like I said I would. And you’d never guess what I have to say. I’m not sorry ‘cause this time I won’t be late.” “Ever Seen,” is another strong single on the album. With “Ever Seen,” the happy nature of the track cleverly disguises the fact that lyrically, Beabadoobee is discussing navigating herself out of a mental breakdown, and coming out of it with love for herself. This track’s instrumentation reminds me a bit of early Bon Iver, and I like it. “Beaches,” was another track and single off the record, that I really enjoyed. The immersive picture that Laus paints is engaging, and I like that she uses Malibu as a metaphor for her creative space for her music, the indie rock guitar riffs, and slow chugging drum rhythm, complement her vocals very well.

    While there’s a lot of things I like about this album, I do feel like it would’ve benefited from being longer. I really enjoyed the different sounds of alternative pop, alternative rock, and indie, sonically. In addition, I loved the creative direction that Laus took, where she tackled serious and understandable topics, and she wasn’t afraid to be personal and honest about herself, which is something I have immense respect for. Too often we forget that artists and creative types are human beings, just like the rest of us. Consuming art that we can relate to, is often the best kind of art out there. Being able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, make our lives that much more real. I really did enjoy this record, as Laus and Rick Rubin did a phenomenal job on the production side, and I feel that Laus is an incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The cohesion of this album is very well done, as all the tracks feel like they connect to each other well, while still differentiating enough to stand out as individual tracks. Another thing I admire, is that Beabadoobee’s incredibly wise and mature beyond her years. Maybe I’m just an immature 24 year old, but the resilience and introspective nature of these tracks, make me feel as if I’m listening to someone who’s experienced all of the ups and downs of life, as well as the wide range of emotions that come with that. Being able to address your ex in a song, politely encouraging them to move on, stop being petty, and live their life, is incredibly levelheaded. In conclusion, it’s a strong album, that deserves much more attention. 

Overall Score: 9/10

Favorite Tracks: “Beaches,” “Ever Seen,” “Coming Home,” “Real Man,” “California,” “Take A Bite,”

Least Favorite Tracks: “Post,”

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXSSfSmbao

Genres: Alternative Pop/Indie Rock/Folk