Sultry singer Nessa Barrett released “AFTERCARE DELUXE” on Feb.7, adding six more hits to the original 15-track album. Fans did not think that the original album — which came out on Nov. 15 — could get any better, but Barrett truly outdid herself.
The first addition, “LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU,” was supposed to be part of the original release, but was scrapped when it did not necessarily fit the aesthetic. However, after relentless pleas from fans, this delicate ballad found its rightful place. While it doesn’t pulse with the same provocative energy as “P*RNSTAR” or “S.L.U.T,” its airy melodies and tender harmonies bring a breath of vulnerability to the collection.
Assumed to be a ballad to current boyfriend and fellow musician Artemas, Barrett’s lyrics — “Love looks pretty on you, look pretty on me / If Heaven’s for lovers, that’s where we’ll be…” — showcase Barrett’s soft and affectionate side. The pillowy vocals and gentle lyrics are reminiscent of early love songs like “Die First” and “grave,” making this my favorite track out of the new six.
“DOES GOD CRY?” is an echoey, haunting melody backed by spectral piano notes that swell into eerie crescendos that never quite resolve. In this desperate, raw track about abandonment, Barrett asks, “Will you always love me the same?” The following song, “BLUE VALENTINE” appears to answer that within its very first lyrics and chorus, where melancholic guitars and heart-wrenching lyricism paint a picture of betrayal — “Wrote your name in a heart / So, tell me why you carved mine into a scar… / You say that you love me, baby, that’s a lie…” — a sharp contrast to the tenderness before it.
“KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME BOY” brings the album back to the original groove of “AFTERCARE” with its seductive lyrics against quiet violins and a slow rhythm. “AMERICAN BEAUTY” does the same but with its electronic pop beat and confident, bold lines similar to “DISCO” and “PINS AND NEEDLES.”
Yet, not every track reaches these heights. “BREAKFAST IN BED,” rumored to be another love letter to Artemas, feels like a lyrical misstep and is arguably the weakest song on the album. While Barrett’s breathy delivery remains as enchanting as ever, lines like “Black coffee’s gone cold / Just like my soul” lack the poetic depth found in “RUSSIAN ROULETTE” or “EDWARD SCISSORHANDS.”
Even so, “AFTERCARE DELUXE” is a testament to Barrett’s evolution as an artist. This deluxe edition will be on repeat for weeks to come, and I can’t wait to see where her music takes us next.
4 / 5 stars
ajones11@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @nessabarrett, Instagram
