"I See You" Phoebe!
- Tucker Cargile
- Jun 19, 2020
- 2 min read
Punisher Review: Folk/Indie
Phoebe Bridgers is undoubtedly a rising star in the indie-folk music scene. Before the pandemic struck, the 25-year old was gearing up to tour with The 1975 throughout the spring/summer and make even more of a name for herself. Sadly this wasn’t able to happen, although Bridgers has released three singles: “Garden Song”. “Kyoto”, and “I See You”, this spring. Each of these singles brings something different to the table, whether that is a jubilant trumpet solo, introspective storytelling, or emotional reflections. After staying up to date with the singer/songwriter’s releases, it was apparent that this album would be compelling, raw, and diverse.
Punisher opens with “DVD Menu” a slow instrumental track, allowing both the listener and Bridgers to take a deep breath before she gets into it. The intro track allows for simplicity and stands in contrast to the rest of the album, which conveys emotion and a strong sense of feeling in a relatively sparse manner. Each track appears to be scattered and some may even say random, although the minuscule amount of detail that characterizes each song contributes a few splashes of paint to the bigger picture, with the audience feeling each and every stroke of the brush.
Bridgers’ first solo album Stranger in the Alps was able to showcase her impeccable lyricism and heart-tugging voice, but Punisher moves along more fluidly. It is never choppy or turbulent and her ability to speak upon an array of emotions is like no other. Throughout the album the singer wants to believe in something, yet like the rest of her generation constant conflict, injustice, and tragedy creates doubt. On “Chinese Satellite” she expresses this, singing: “I want to believe/Instead, I look at the sky and I feel nothing.”
Punisher depicts the artistic growth that Bridgers has gone through, as well as her untouched potential that will bloom even under her frequent dark and gloomy mood. Listen to this album, interpret it for yourself, and embrace Phoebe Bridgers’ recent message that is attached to the project:
“I’m not pushing the record until things go back to “normal” because I don’t think they should. Here it is a little early. Abolish the police. Hope you like it.” (via Instagram).
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