The king of indie pop and androgyny, Garrett Borns (or most commonly known and stylized as BØRNS), released a brand new album, Blue Madonna, on January 12th, 2018.
It’s been three years since the release of his debut album Dopamine, which included his most popular song, “Electric Love.” After opening for other artists, such as Charli XCX, Bleachers, and Halsey, headlining his own tours, and appearing at several popular festivals around the country, such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo, he finally provided new content, aiming to please the masses.
This brand new album edges closer and closer to the glam-pop genre, with little hints of melodies and beats that sound like they sample music that came fresh from the 80’s.
The album consists of twelve songs, including one feature for the first track, “God Save Our Young Blood.” With the enchanting synth and beat supporting the scintillating vocals of Borns, along with backup vocals from Lana Del Rey, the two sing about the rush of adolescence, creating imagery of a glamorous, fast-paced Hollywood-esque lifestyle that many people already glorify.
With singles from the album like “Faded Heart,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “I Don’t Want U Back,” Borns brings you through the stages of love – being so infatuated with someone that you don’t realize how much it’ll hurt when it doesn’t end well, watching that person move on and eventually moving on yourself. He carefully depicts these feelings, delicately leading you through memories that both warms his heart and sends him through whirlwinds, showing how much these moments meant to him.
“We Don’t Care” is an anthem for those who need to leave all their problems at the door and swing their hips into the center of the dance floor to the beat, screaming the lyrics. It’s the type of song that you want to blast with the windows down in the car with your friends, driving down a highway, and like the title of the song, with no care in the world.
Each song volleys back and forth the idea of being deeply in love, like “Iceberg,” where he professes his love for his significant other, though they only see what’s on the surface, or falling out of love, like in “Bye-bye Darling,” where he expresses the need to let his lover go, realizing that their chapter is coming to a close. “Bye-bye Darling” is also the last track of the album, bidding farewell to his listeners after sending you through a series of stories about love, lust and heartbreak.
All in all, it’s incredible having new content from Borns after his three-year hiatus.
His velvety voice sends you to the moon, conveying feelings that make you want to be in love. The exciting drum beats throughout the whole album are infectious, paired with glimmering pop melodies, perfect for any mood whatsoever, whether it be for dancing around in your room alone, screaming about not needing a person in your life anymore, or lying in bed, thinking about life. Personally, I don’t think this album tops Dopamine, his first album, but it’s still pretty great, nonetheless.
– Melissa Resurreccion