Blondshell – Joiner Review

Getting comfortable in the faults and highs of living is right at the core of Joiner. Blondshell proves once more that her talents are coming together ahead of that self-titled debut album. More than a few homegrown stylings are featured on Joiner, the latest track to come from this uplifting, personally-charged piece. Genuine calls to arms in music are hard to spot, but Blondshell is rallying the self-belief that everyone has whether it is right at the front of their image or in the bottom of the bin where Joiner, initially, finds its focus. Lovely modern cuts make it through, from HBO references to car crashes of wanting to escape troubles inflicted in the past.

Joiner is collecting up that modern drive of simps and creeps, the exposure of modern culture right at the core as Blondshell pushes forth with nostalgic alt-rock stylings lingering underneath. That pairing gives a recognisable sound modern presence, but it also leads Blondshell to unique stances. Yet to be covered notions that other, appealing artists that follow this style are missing out on. Joiner considers reality without the somewhat sterilised, loved-up feel other artists present. Blondshell has that core realism to each and every single so far, but Joiner cements it best of all with cruises through streets to pick up drugs and lucid lyrics to follow up those experiences.

Experience is the core of Joiner, and Blondshell may not have much of that when it comes to album releases, but with tracks like this, it is a safe bet to mark it and Blondshell as one to keep in mind. Joiner has that disjointed feel to its opening as it prepares itself and the listener, daring themselves into reflection with a nice and constant acoustic guitar complimenting the ever-quality vocal style. Expressions of hope and freedom are right there. To some degree, those bad decisions, the guns in bars and hanging around with the wrong crowd are a hope for differing experiences that may form something that just isn’t there in someone. Not everyone can fit in, get along, stick around or stay together. Joiner has a fundamentally different experience in its words than it does with the meaning of its title. Nothing is joined about the fitting in and isolation that comes from hatred of the self.

Blondshell moves those ideas around, shuffling them as constants and enriched experiences that feel both tied to the LA area and broadly understandable thanks to how clear these lyrics are. Great hooks and a constant high evolves the instrumentals, pairing that rise with the vocal momentum Blondshell provides. Buzzing, tinny radio overdubs on the back-and-forth that comes before the final chorus of being at the bottom of the bin. Whether Joiner reflects on saving someone else or saving yourself is by and large the same. Neither is truly possible when jumping into the fires of a wrong crowd or a misfit stance that does not gel with the roots of a person. Joiner engages that with real quality and it marks another solid, interesting showcase of Blondshell’s talents and what listeners can expect on the upcoming debut album.