Opening with the short but sweet ‘High Expectations’, the intro seems to signify the difficulty she has faced in her life and her need to prove people wrong. It’s a simple, slow start to the album and quickly fades into the first full single on the album.
‘Bad Behaviour’ was the first single to be teased from the album along with its music video. With an interesting selection of musical instruments, its an instant bop with a seductive tone.
The second single on the album is ‘Don’t Call Me Up’ which was a single prior to the albums released. In the video, she sings whilst submerged in a bathtub with high heels on which created high anticipation for her debut album. Looking at the lyrics, it seems the song is potentially about a boy that has messed her around and instead of trying to resolve the issue, she just doesn’t want any more communication with this individual.
The introduction to ‘FML’ suggests that she initially had a connection with someone and then they started ‘going cold’ with her. The verses of the song are very emotional and contrast well with the electronic fast-paced vibe production. It seems like most of these songs from the album are about previous boyfriends and instead of taking it to heart, she’s finally come to terms within it and this is her way of moving on. Compared to her usual dance-infused tracks, ‘We Don’t Stop’ feels more like a ballad, which shows a different side to her and expresses her creativity and diversity musically.
On her track ‘Trouble’ which intro sounds similar to Ariana Grande’s ‘God Is A Woman’, it’s revealed that Mabel been indeed looking for trouble. Looking at the lyrics, the song seems to be about someone she has found a connection with, but instead of it being with someone she trusts, they aren’t as genuine as they seem.
The next track titled ‘OK (Anxiety Anthem)’ is a three-minute explanation of everything she has been through regarding anxiety and depression. Addressing these issues with genuine emotion as opposed to just addressing the issues as she allows the listener to connect more with her as an artist rather than just a singer.
Towards the end of the album, it seems as if she has come to terms with what she needs to accept in herself before she can put her trust into anyone else through tracks like ‘I Belong To Me.’ The final song on the album is called ‘Not Sayin’ which features pleasant backing vocals during the verses and fits with the theme of her generic dance tracks.
Overall, my favourite songs from the album are ‘Don’t Call Me Up’, ‘Mad Love’, ‘I Belong To Me’ and ‘Cigarette.’
By Brandon Boyd
Feature image courtesy ofDIY Mag