After I had a completely lukewarm response to her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? I’d admitted to myself that, like much modern music, this Billie Eilish offering simply wasn’t for me. That makes me sound rather fusty and set in my ways, but I’ve really pushed myself out of my comfort zone this year, I’ve listened to stuff that I really didn’t think I’d enjoy. My lack of enjoyment of such products is benign, the sheer fact that I’ve attempted to experience new art is good enough for me, and Therefore I Am is my latest intrepid journey into music I don’t like, understand, or care for.
Commendable subject matters gelling well with the patented style Eilish carved out with her debut album, Therefore I Am is a good sign of things to come, although I do fear her upcoming album will fall to the same problems her freshman effort offered us. Rather static at times, this track sounds far, far too similar to all of Eilish’s previous work. The mash-up of indie and electronic genres is suitable, but it tires itself out rather quickly. A lack of variety in lyrical tone and style is a real let-down, but perhaps it would be pedantic to expect innovative change in the downtime between album releases.
Music that’ll appeal to a certain brand of person, I’ve heard the word “basic” knocked about before, and I do believe it applies here. It’s a good song, don’t get me wrong I did enjoy it, but there’ll be those out there that apply their own rather placid, joyless message to this song. They’re the people that use the word “anthem” unironically, and I do my best to stay away from them. That’s more a criticism of the fanbase than of Eilish’s musical abilities, of which there are definitely many, but the simplicity of this track shouldn’t be overstated because of strong subject matter.
Likeable as it is, I can’t shake the feeling that Therefore I Am is a rather redundant song. A message can only be taken as far as its musical merits, which stagger around with relative tension and a solid sound mix, but nothing incredible. A very personal song, definitely, but as actual music, I can’t say I’d listen to this one too often. Short, sweet, and knows its audience all too well, there’s little innovation here, Therefore I Am hopes to sell itself on a poignant message of an artist battering down the bottom feeders that criticise her looks, not her talent. Solid messaging, but tonally lacking anything new for audiences to engage with.
