Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT ALBUM REVIEW

Billie continues maturing as a songwriter, slightly expending some of her breakthrough's charm.

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Team: Jeremy - Lead Edits / Anthony - Final Cuts / Austen - Proofing, Posting
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FAV TRACKS: LUNCH, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, WILDFLOWER, THE GREATEST, L'AMOUR DE MA VIE

LEAST FAV TRACK: THE DINER

BILLIE EILISH - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT / 2024 / DARKROOM / ALT-POP

7/10

Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?

[CompleteProducer]

Was anyone else disappointed this review wasn’t really done underwater?

[push]

“I feel like the true selling point of this LP is gonna be the songs” -melon, professional music critic

[wpbn]

it's so funny that 5 years ago Fantano gave a Billie album a yellow flannel and it annoyed his fanbase, and now Fantano DOESN'T give a Billie album a yellow flannel and it annoys his fanbase

[james-m-]

For me it’s a strong 8 to light 9, no skips for me and easily her most confident work ever.

[zolothebolo]

1:58 Yes melon, I believe every LP’s selling point will be the songs

[mochimao]

If this album was called to pimp me hard and soft you would have given it a 10/10

[jeanoltt]

Anthony you can't just say "I'm the bald guy" and laugh during 9 minutes only to give her a 7, that's not fair to Billie.

[StuMckay]

The Greatest is one of Billie’s most exceptional vocal performances of her career. She doesn’t often use her full voice in a song but when she does it f**king soars. Her range in that song is remarkable! I don’t think she’s ever sounded as confident

[renereyes]

My girlfriend hates you for not giving it a 10

[Askalott]

I respectfully disagree with you, Anthony. I don’t really listen to a lot of mainstream music because I find most of it a little lackluster, but this album has really captivated me. I think the light airy pop is a breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely appreciated her darker music, but I think if she had kept releasing creepy twisted albums people would have gotten bored. I also think it’s important to keep in mind that her nightmarish music came from a place of deep despair, with lyrics like, “I wanna end me” and talking about jumping off the roof of a building. I don’t think we as fans should box her into that state of mind. I appreciate the growth and progression. It’s nice to hear her in a clearer state of mind—feels like a release. Also, she actually first rose to stardom with lighter and more melodic hits on her first EP Don’t Smile at Me, so this album kind of feels like a return to the self and recaptures a little bit of the innocence that comes with youth. I think HIT ME HARD AND SOFT does a great job balancing both the dark and the light so it feels dynamic and doesn’t get stale. Also love the cinematic experience of it all. Best production yet, especially with the incorporation of strings and live drums.

[AntColston]

Birds of a Feather is ridiculously good, easily one of her best songs

[Alonso.]

I swear if it’s a Light 7 to decent 7 I’m gonna lose it

[tylerhackner]

Imo her best album so far. Takes the quirky creative weirdness of her first album, the introspective, low key style of her second and combines the two in the best way imo. And her voice is better than ever. Truly is belting and letting it all out more.

[FiragoMusic]

Again, I've got to take issue with Fantano's opinions on production. As a producer/songwriter/etc - to my (relatively trained) ear - this has FAR more exciting production than any of her peers.
Simply the mix choices alone, the dynamics, of course the rhythmic ear goodies are masterful and will expose themselves on repeated listens. I don't think any of her production-by-an-army competitors (Bey, Taylor, Charli, et al) have a producer with as singular a vision as Finneas. All of their production SO MUCH SAFER. This is far more exciting sonically, by a landslide.

[sLePpInG]

wow from the stream I thought it would be a decent 8. it's a great album, no one of her popularity is doing stuff like that

[NikkuManAMVs]

7? Nah this was an easy 8 or 9 for me. Her best work to date. Vocally the strongest and production was still interesting/experimental without sounding gimmicky this time. Dare I say I got slight Radiohead vibes.

Every track has standout moments. Bittersuite was so varied and abstract as a track it makes me so excited for her future sound. Birds of a Feather is so addictive and may be my current favorite.

[sleep]

This was a 9. Her best yet, tight and varied and full of beautiful detail. BLUE is one of the best songs of the year

[FlaggedVideoGuy]

ANTHONY how do you not call out the motif that played on SKINNY, THE GREATEST and BLUE?? THE GREATEST has probably the best climax that she belts over the same melody motif from both the other tracks. I got chills the first time i realized.

[bn]

how is a 7 controversial at all???? that's a GOOD score wtf are people on

[sienarenee]

Am I the only one who actually thought THE DINER went HARD? I dug the quirky weird clown-like instrumentals