Premature Evaluation: Phoebe Bridgers Lost Weekend

It appears that Phoebe Bridgers' album "Lost Weekend" is a departure from her previous work, "Punisher." Opening track "The Outside" features a vocoder joke that swiftly transitions to her whispery vocals recounting her father's death and being carried away in a crowd. While "Punisher" dealt with crushing themes, "Lost Weekend" takes it to a new level, incorporating electronic elements and bluegrass Americana sounds.

The collaborations with various artists such as Jack Antonoff, Alex G, Cameron Winter, Christian Lee Hutson, Maya Hawke, Lucy Dacus, and Bo Burnham contribute to the album's richness and depth. Despite some criticism about the number of collaborators, it seems Bridgers is content working with friends and creating something special.

The album’s title track features a church organ and a single verse that merges memories and stream-of-consciousness, leading into electronic chaos. Bridgers' voice is more carefully and experimentally used, swinging between low octaves and gasping for air. The album is filled with interludes, instrumentals, and vignettes, giving it a collage-like quality.

The most Smith-esque moment is a seething diss at the end of "The Governor’s Waltz" directed towards her former friend Gracie Abrams, who is now dating Paul Mescal. Overall, "Lost Weekend" confidently moves away from the comforting atmosphere of "Punisher" while still referencing it with melodic and lyrical nods.