After a self-titled debut which was nothing short of monumental, another batch of fresh Blondshell material is welcome. It is not as though they went anywhere. Hard work on the road and in the studio has meant those catchy thrills like Veronica Mars and deeper, stronger cuts like Tarmac and Dangerous are still whirring away, threatening to take up larger and larger portions of the brain. Welcome it. Embrace follow-up album, If You Asked for a Picture, too. At a time when up-and-coming, pop-adjacent artists are expected to put truth on the line, to have their light in the spotlight for our entertainment and the chance to witness relatable moments through a fresh gaze, Blondshell is unflinchingly open. Cool, too. That is key. Sabrina Teitelbaum is not afraid of sonic change. If You Asked for a Picture offers a different tone, a familiarity in the messages. This is the fine line singer-songwriters continually seek.
If You Asked for a Picture is a brilliant continuation of that first record. Blondshell found quality first time out and maintains the touching worldview with such intensity. If You Asked for a Picture is an album which makes good on the promise of the preceding work. An often mesmerising piece where the conviction from Teitelbaum’s vocal work is enough to carry the inevitably tortured experiences of lost loves and leading a life alone. We hope for control in our lives, be it personal and professional relationships or what we do with our free time. But the hyper exposure to those moments, to making every second count, can be our undoing. If You Asked for a Picture breaks down the choice paralysis which comes from being connected in an always online culture. Thumbtack pairs well with lead single T&A, the exploration of personable shortcomings and how we are to overcome them shares with us no answer; there is no need.
Blondshell is one of us, someone still seeking the conclusion to the highs and lows of life. T&A has grown exceptionally, a call to arms against those who are so often let into the heart, only to harm. Blondshell evades the obvious pitfalls by featuring a genuine feeling, a truly broken heart. But paired with the defiance which defined her self-titled debut, and the bulk of those softer, sadder moments on If You Asked for a Picture are moments of defiance in the face of messy circumstances. Wordplay is the crucial part of a long-lasting album, hinged on the love lost between people, let alone a person and their passions. These are essential slices of life put to song, backed by wonderful instrumental accompaniments. Event of a Fire is as complete a piece as Blondshell has made so far, a perfect blur of their introspective lyrical pieces and the roaring, electrified guitar work which guides their best efforts.
Compassion is key, and it is what elevates Blondshell above contemporaries in the same field. There is no fixated desire to be relevant or relatable from Blondshell. She is not checking boxes with this writing style for the sake of it, but finding truth and beauty in the everyday, as all great writers do. 23’s a Baby captures a fear of commitment to new life but also finds support in this dedication. It is a choice. Be it to have kids early or not at all, the respect between either party sounds lacking in the modern day, and Blondshell does well to unpack the societal expectation which comes with all those notes of life. The house, the job, the family, the car, it is all there and expected of a listener just as much as the artist.
But pump the brakes. Stop off and smell the roses. Whatever it is you can do to hold on to the moment at hand, instead of thinking long into the future. It is the whole purpose of Change, for instance. What we have at hand is not at all what we may need. If You Asked for a Picture hears an artist dig deep into their soul, crack through the very bedrock of their being, and spill the details. Pieces of lighter reflection, other parts are overwhelming in their fear, and brilliant for it. Blondshell paints a necessary, messy picture of life, it is exactly what it can be and there is no shying away from that. To do so, as many artists are at present, is irresponsible. Blondshell’s dedication to the ever-shifting tones of life is mesmerising. Life happens when you aren’t looking. These moments are not the making of a person, but experiences to learn from. That much is clear on If You Asked for a Picture.
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