Multi-talented musician blackbear is back with his brand-new fifth studio-album everything means nothing, featuring 12-tracks.
The album’s lead single ‘Hot Girl Bummer’ is a breakup anthem for the ages. The outstanding storytelling and instrumentation is just fascinating. There’s a careless vibe present that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks anymore. It’s a vibrant, catchy and great introduction to the album itself.
The second single ‘Me & Ur Ghost’ will make the listener want to dance and cry at the same time. His vocals are lively unlike the sad lyrics, he sings, “I’m not alone, it’s just me and your ghost / And this cripplin’ depression / I thought I learned my lesson / But I threw out my phone / And I burned all your clothes / And now I’m not alone / It’s just me and your ghost.”
The album’s third single ‘Queen of Broken Hearts’ is a pop banger and anthem. It’s a relatable track as he discusses being a not-so-good partner. His vocal performance is heart-wrenching, colliding perfectly with a party vibe instrumentation.
‘i feel bad’ has an unbelievable instrumental featuring effortless vocals and an explosive tempo that makes the heartbreaker feel on top. Opening the track with, “I'm like fuck love, fuck life / I'm a fool for you all day, all night / You say that you could do better, why don't you try? / Nevermind how I feel, it's alright,” over an electro-pop beats, it’s clear blackbear isn’t here to just play around.
‘i feel 2 much’ discussed openly about his demons and depression regarding this relationship, it’s an emotive track that is relatively heart wrenching. With lyrics like, “You gave me too much to feel / Everything, it feel too real / I don't wanna feel this much,” immediately it will touch the listeners soul with the relatable confusion and sadness.
‘i felt that’ has hard-hitting truth, “The truth is that you ripped out my heart / Then you stomped on it / The truth is that you switched up, you changed / You flipped the script,” he’s amazing with his storytelling. There’s some depressing lyrics, but it does have an incredible instrumentation that has a lot of energy, a bass drop, and makes the listener want to get up and dance.
‘sobbing in cabo’ happy and sad dynamics present that makes this a stand-out track delivering outrageously amazing instrumentation, lyricism, and vocals. It’s a memorable track in the limbo of getting back with someone or getting over them being stuck in a moment of time, he sings, “I don't wanna go home tonight, all alone / Cracks in my heart, got cracks in my phone / Tried gettin' over you, over you / That was really hard for me, hard to do.”
‘Clown’ has the listeners in their feelings. Featuring Trevor Daniel, the lyrics are infectious pretending one is okay when they’re not. It embraces the fear of moving on with manic humour and heartfelt emotions that is emotionally complex.
‘half alive’ is produced by Marshmello. It’s the most heartfelt, giving up track on the record. With an upbeat, beat drop on the chorus, it has a dance-ready instrumentation being the opposite of the storytelling.
‘if i were u’ features Lauv in a poetic tone with breathtaking vocals along with soul-crushing lyricism. On the chorus, he sings, “If I were you and you were me / I would say goodbye, turn around and leave / I'd do it all so differently,” over groovy instrumentation that just brings the song to life.
‘why are girls?’ is an unflinching track full of questions that blackbear is searching for answers. With a superficial vibe present, it’s clear to see he’s not over his previous flame and keeps being attracted to ‘beautiful girls’ who ‘ruin my world’.
Concluding the album with ‘smile again’, it’s a memorable last song. He sings, “So long, baby / Did you know, you saved me? / Silver line faded / But you know, I'll keep waiting.” The beautiful documentation of the track is impressive as he put to words a feeling many don’t know how to communicate.
These songs are different kinds of heartbreak records that will be timeless. It’s raw pop with his own twist that is just flawless and entertaining. He was able to create different types of heartbreak tunes that will have something for different vibes; traditional pop, electric, sappy, and hip-hop. There’s nothing cliché either about the entire record. He’s a fantastic artist that has the abilities to craft intriguing masterpieces to toy in with listeners' emotions.
blackbear is paving the way for himself in this new era of pop music. Each track has glamourous vibes, amazing beat drops, and incredible rhythms that will capture the attention of the listener immediately. There’s a refreshing mood throughout the 12-tracks that embrace the confusing feelings everyone will feel at some point. Although it’s mostly a heartbreak record, it will heal hearts, making the listeners feel less alone.
blackbear wrote and co-produced the entire album. Each track is an instant appealing song that will get the listener vibing along. Featuring his signature relatable lyrics, upbeat instrumentation, and fascinating melodies, he’s really on to something new. everything is nothing, is an album that will never get old. It’s a powerful piece with masterful tracks that overall is an excellent project to add to his discography.
everything means nothing, follows Deadroses (2015), Help (2015), Digital Druglord (2017), and Anonymous (2019).
Words by Danielle Holian