I know it’s been a couple of weeks since the initial release, but I was finally able to sit down and give my full and undivided attention to Madison Beer’s sophomore album Silence Between Songs, which was released on Sept. 15, 2023. To be honest, I was unsure how I would feel about this album. Beer’s debut album Life Support was nothing special in my eyes. Although there are a few standout tracks, it just appeared to be another mediocre pop record. However, Silence Between Songs was full of surprises that caught me off guard.
It’s evident that Beer had a clear vision of what she wanted to tell within this album. This album is more mature compared to her previous work. This album is the pop star’s take on fame and how it’s affected her life. At the beginning of the album, the singer contemplates fame and seemingly wants simplicity in the tracks “Spinnin” and “Envy the Leaves.” In tracks “17” and “Ryder,” she reminisces on her childhood. Both tracks take an apologetic stance, as she wishes she could go back in time and change specific moments in time. As the album progresses, she touches upon love, heartbreak, self-love, and self-hatred in tracks such as “Reckless,” “Showed Me,” and “At Your Worst.” Through upbeat tracks and several ballads, the singer is emotionally raw and transparent, allowing us to see what her life has been like.
It should be noted that she co-wrote and co-produced all of the tracks. Personally, I found this to be an extremely refreshing pop record. The balance of ’60s-inspired ballads, psych-rock, and synth-pop tracks make it stand out compared to others recently released. The cinematic ballads make the listener feel as if they were transported back in time. Beer builds a world that is captivating with her sultry vocals matched with tempos that are steady but don’t feel rushed.
Overall, this is a vulnerable and heartfelt record. Off the bat, the melodies and composition of these tracks drew me in. Especially in the earlier tracks of the albums, there were transitions from verses to the pre-chorus and chorus that were seamless. I believe that this sound suits the singer’s voice well. Although her vocal performance has been great with her previous work, this album shined a new light on her vocal talent. The ease of switching from chest to head voice, layering several melodies and harmonies, and conveying so much emotion while singing is extremely notable. This is the right step for the singer, in terms of her sound. I think another reason why I enjoyed this album is due to the fact that it was cohesive from start to finish. Not only did the production stay consistent, but the subjects of the songs were cohesive too. Each song had a sense of sadness and yet was overall hopeful. Silence Between Songs is Madison Beer’s way of looking back on the past and accepting what has happened. She is able to acknowledge it and move forward. Madison Beer is an artist that has a lot of potential and I think this album helped her step into her own sound and is allowing her to stand out amongst her peers. It brings to light Madison Beer’s talent in both vocals and production. I’m excited to see what she releases next and will continue to stream Silence Between Songs in the meantime.