Our weekly column Song of the week highlights the best new songs every week. Find these new favorites and more in our Spotify best songs playlist and to see other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify new sounds play list. This week, Billie Eilish throws away the recipe book.
Vulnerability is at the core of a Billie Eilish song, from the furious release of “Happier Than Ever” to the tender disappointment of “What Was I Made For?” A large part of the reason her music resonates with such a notable portion of her generation (beyond the sonic inventiveness that she and her brother FINNEAS tend to employ) is the lack of filter her.
With “LUNCH” specifically, and their third LP, HIT ME HARD AND SOFTOverall, Eilish has entered a new threshold of honesty. From come off as weird and identifying as “for the girls,” Eilish has remained truthful, and this new album delves into the rise and demise of a relationship that clearly left her deeply affected. One thing about heartbreak, though, is that once the dust has settled, there are inevitably gems left to be creatively mined.
“LUNCH” arrives as the album’s second track, rooted in the early stages of a relationship where lust and comfortable happiness intertwine. The track is fun and refreshing, showing a vibrant side of Eilish that we don't always get to see. She tiptoes into outlaw territory with western-adjacent guitar reverbs, all while a danceable beat keeps the energy high. “She's taking pictures in the mirror / Oh my god, her skin is so light / Tell him to bring her here,” she sings, and her smile is practically audible.
As an artist who has carved out a space for herself in music that often involves lower, breathy parts of her range, it's wonderful to see Eilish lean into a number of different vocal choices throughout HIT ME HARD AND GENTLE. Fingers are still crossed that a jazz album will one day be released, but in the meantime we can enjoy the growth and experimentation of an artist who has been in the spotlight since she was barely old enough to get a driver's license. If “LUNCH” proves anything, it's that Eilish has barely begun.
— Maria Siroky
Contributing editor
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