Nessa Barrett dropped her sophomore album, “AFTERCARE,” a moody 15-track anthology that dives into sex, love and consequences on Nov. 15.
Since her debut in 2020, Barrett has been an artist I frequently anticipate listening to, and this new album is definitely her best work yet. Each song has a different element and vibe, but are all tied together with 2016-techno feeling beats and a sultry pop tone.
The first song, fittingly named “AFTERCARE,” is a short introduction. What may sound like gibberish on the first listen are actually lyrics sung backwards, prepping listeners for the eeriness that follows in the later tracks.
Track two, “PORNSTAR,” is basically an admission to being full of lust, while “HEARTBEAT,” the song that follows, has almost a complete opposite message. Although it still contains themes of sex, the lyrics are much more romantic. Barrett asks her lover to “kiss the pink back” into her lips, telling them, “only you / can make my heart / beat again.”
The next two tracks were pre-releases, “DISCO” featuring Tommy Genesis on Oct. 18 and “PASSENGER PRINCESS” on July 6.
“MUSTANG BABY” featuring Artemas is the only other feature on the album. While it is not my favorite song off the album, I like its connection to “PASSENGER PRINCESS,” and there’s no denying that Barrett and Artemas are talented.
“RUSSIAN ROULETTE” is my favorite out of all 15 tracks. What initially drew me to Barrett was her soft and whimsical voice, and this song showcases not only that, but her growth as a songwriter. Backed by a haunting melody and accompanied by vulnerable lyrics about love as a game, it is very Lana Del Rey-esque. There is also a sound effect of a revolver throughout the piece, which again plays into the album’s eerie core.
Track eight, “S.L.U.T.,” is a complete 360, where Barrett sings of wanting “sex, lies” and “ugly truth,” completing each letter in the title. This bass boosted ballad is similar to her early titles like “i hope ur miserable until ur dead” but incorporates the recent sultry vibe of her music.
“BABYDOLL” is reminiscent of Melanie Martinez’s 2015 “Cry Baby” with its circus-like tune and lyrics like “Drop me when you’re bored of me, done with me / Until then, I’m your babydoll” and “You suffocate me with pink cellophane / Least I look pretty in pain.” What I particularly like about this song are the quick sharp notes that are added to the chorus.
“GIVEN ENOUGH” is what initially reminded me of the pop-hits of 2016, as it has the essence of Galantis and The Chainsmokers with lots of repeated lyrics, a violin and a beat drop. The following track, “EDWARD SCISSORHANDS” contains elements of the 1990 classic with lyrics like “Whenever you touch me / You cut me to pieces,” and “You’re not a monster, just a broken man / Edward Scissorhands.”
“GLITTER AND VIOLENCE” is very similar to “BABYDOLL,” with a show-like beat and the lyric, “I’m a toy ’til you shelf me.” However, rather than being about a physical doll, this track is about strip culture and being a plaything to men.
Track 13, “PINS AND NEEDLES” seems to be the fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why. It is definitely the song that combines both the old and new Barrett, as the lyrics feel very “pretty poison” — her 2021 EP — but the back track is a catchy and addicting synth beat. I also feel like I must mention how much I adore the way Barrett’s songs have so many lower notes and flats — it puts my inner alto on cloud nine.
Since “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET” was released on Sept. 20, the final track to mention is “STAY ALIVE,” another electronic and synthesized beat. However, the lyrics are quite serious: “Here we go again / I’m standing on the edge / Here with my old friend / The voice inside my head,” she sings, admitting, “thе shit that I’d die for / Is the shit I stay alive for.”
It’s not typical for me to have a no-skip album, but Barrett has truly done it. Each song is so wonderfully crafted and excellently captures her personality and vibe.
5/5 stars
ajones11@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @nessabarrett, Instagram
