Album Review // Blondshell // Blondshell

Partisan Records

Sabrina Teitelbaum's debut album is a subtly brilliant one, filled with personal songwriting touches. A bedroom record with fuzzy shoegaze sounds and '90s alt throwback shimmering choruses, it's nearly perfect for what it is. Teitelbaum's lyricism is distinctive, directly addressing the real-life issues at hand, such as drug use, failed relationships, and the litany of poor personal decisions one makes when they're in their mid 20s. The Los Angeles-based 25-year-old previously put out music under the name BAUM, a much poppier outing compared to this grunge-affected eponymous release. Though the music uses a language established before Teitelbaum was even born, the words and delivery are purely honest, adeptly spun narratives you can blast in your car and sing along to. The nine tracks go by fast, without a weak song in the bunch. From the heavy opening distortion of "Veronica Mars" to the revenge fantasy of "Salad," to the dark acceptance of "Sepsis," Teitelbaum tells a damn good story. Though the pace of the album is a little front-loaded, it's something that's worth dozens of spins if not more. Perfect for fans of Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, or Slow Pulp, Blondshell ranks right up there with any of her contemporaries.