Dynamic songwriter and singer Hayley Williams showcases genre-blending sounds and emotional ambition on her newest album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.
Though Williams is known as the lead singer of the pop-rock band Paramore, this is not her first solo venture. It is also not the first time she has released material with a more independent, emotional approach. But while Williams’ past two solo releases, Flowers for Vases and Petals for Armor, are both emotionally vulnerable, this album tops them both.
Every song is atmospheric, with an earworm quality that runs through it due to the unique use of sounds, including synths, guitars, and distorted vocals, as well as diverse genre elements such as acoustic, shoegaze, and indie pop. The album is so varied and unique that no track sounds like another.
While the album is longer than most modern albums, comprising 18 tracks that total an hour of runtime, there are no filler tracks. Every song includes Williams spilling her guts about topics such as depression, love, and, of course, the loss of ego.
“Mirtazapine” is a particularly intriguing song due to its raw vocals from Williams, as well as imagery using the subject matter of depression and dependence on prescription medicine.
It wouldn’t be a Williams album without some sort of political or cultural commentary. The anthemic “True Believer” criticizes hypocritical Christians and racism, preaching the lyrics: “Act like God ain’t watching / Kill the soul, turn a profit.”
The album closes with the hard-hitting “Parachute,” which describes the emotional barriers that arise at the end of a relationship when one partner is still in love.
Overall, the uniqueness of each song ensures every track on the album would easily feel right at home on a variety of different playlists, while they all come together to perfectly fit thematically.
This album proves Hayley Williams is not just the face of an iconic rock band, but a meaningful and thought-provoking artist who brings serious talent and emotion to her releases.
