Billie Eilish Happier Than Ever Album Review
At just 19 years old, Billie Eilish has already conquered the world. Her first studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, debuted atop the Billboard 200 charts, featuring the ground-breaking #1 hit single “Bad Guy.”
She won seven Grammys along the way, becoming the youngest person to win all four general-field categories in one night. With such a monumental rise to stardom, where could Eilish go next?
Naturally, Eilish decided to confront her meteoric rise with a knife. Happier Than Ever abandons the darkness of Where Do We Go? for a glitzy gold aesthetic, but don’t let the newfound glam confuse you. Whereas her debut explored her nightmares, Happier Than Ever grabs hold of them and interrogates them.
Album opener “Getting Older” sets the stage for this lyrical specificity. As she croons, “I’ve had some trauma, did things I didn’t wanna / Was too afraid to tell ya, but now, I think it’s time,” Eilish makes it clear: people have hurt her, and it’s time for them to know.
Throughout the album, Eilish’s lyrics teeter between themes of love and abuse amidst worldwide fame. Happier Than Ever carefully balances wit and pain to form an honest representation of the highs and lows of celebrity. Along the way, she intersperses new musical styles to supplement her more specific message.
Eilish lays her scars bare over an acoustic guitar on the gripping “Your Power” as she chronicles the abuse suffered in a skewed relationship she had as a minor. “Therefore I Am,” meanwhile, casually thrashes her former partner and other critics for their lack of relevance along with a bouncy beat.
“NDA” rests firmly between these two poles as it explores teenage romance as a pop star. The song’s title wryly references a lyric where Eilish forces a potential partner to sign an NDA over their encounter. Amidst this humor, however, lies anguish; by the song’s end, an auto-tuned Eilish begs to know if she took this relationship too far.
All of these themes culminate in the anthemic titular track “Happier Than Ever.” The song opens with a ukulele accompaniment evoking “The Mamas & The Papas,” as Billie softly lets her ex know she’s happier than ever without him. As he calls her drunk in the song’s second half, however, Billie loses her patience. The song shifts into a distorted rock anthem that sounds like the lovechild of Radiohead and Queen. Eilish’s vocal, lyrical, and musical chops are all on full display in what I’d consider her best song yet.
While her riskier moments lead to her finest songwriting, musical and lyrical variety leave Happier Than Ever a bit less cohesive and consistent than When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.
The album’s middle particularly slows down. While it’s great to hear Eilish’s choral opening on “GOLDWING,” the song tanks the momentum built by the album’s raucous first five songs. “Not My Responsibility” and “OverHeated” combine for a powerful statement on the media’s perception of Eilish’s body. Yet at a run time of over seven minutes, it feels like the message could be tightened. Finally, “Everybody Dies” feels like the opening to a more interesting Adele song but fails to build much beyond its concept.
The peaks of Happier Than Ever, however, entirely outshine these lows. While it feels like a less complete album than When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Happier Than Ever takes Eilish’s sound and songwriting to new heights. It feels like a natural evolution of Eilish’s sound and style; as she gains confidence in the industry, these risks will only continue to pay off.
If this is what she can do at 19, I can only imagine what’s next.
Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever, Track by Track
Track 1: Getting Older
Length: 4:04
From the review: “Album opener “Getting Older” sets the stage for…lyrical specificity. As she croons,’ I’ve had some trauma, did things I didn’t wanna / Was too afraid to tell ya, but now, I think it’s time,’ Eilish makes it clear: people have hurt her, and it’s time for them to know.”
Track 2: I Didn’t Change My Number
Length: 2:38
“I Didn’t Change My Number” is another classic, snarly Billie Eilish banger. A groovy organ riff guides Eilish’s nonchalant takedown of an ex. The song slowly layers in additional instrumentals, ending with an intense, distorted, harmonized sound. “I Didn’t” is Eilish doing what she does best.
Track 3: Billie Bossa Nova
Length: 3:16
The aptly titled “Billie Bossa Nova” tells the tale of secret love over a swanky bossa nova beat. Smooth guitar and evocative lyrics paint a fascinating story of sexual attraction and celebrity.
Track 4: my future
Length: 3:30
“my future” is a groovy standout, both here and during its original release as a single. It’s not often that Eilish delivers a more straight-up pop song, but she has here in spades. Check out the music video for a whole vibe.
Track 5: Oxytocin
Length: 3:30
The bass and distorted vocals of “Oxytocin” mimic Eilish’s classic single “bad guy” but fail to reach that song’s colossal heights. Another song in Eilish’s nightmare world, “Oxytocin” feels less subtle than Eilish’s other sex songs on the record.
Track 6: GOLDWING
Length: 2:31
From the review: “While it’s great to hear Eilish’s choral opening on” ‘GOLDWING,” the song tanks the momentum built by the album’s raucous first five songs.” Lyrically, GOLDWING introduces a critique of porn explored later in the album.
Track 7: Lost Cause
Length: 3:32
“Lost Cause” is an absolute banger single. The bass is bumpin’, synth pours through the chorus, and Eilish’s vocals shift from effortless melody to skilled background riffs on a whim. A gorgeous, thorough middle finger.
Track 8: Halley’s Comet
Length: 3:54
A methodical, thoughtful song stilted by its placement within Happier Than Ever. Slow burn piano and guitar combine with a dreamy outro for a smooth track that feels like an album closer. Instead, its placement in the album’s middle feels lost. Going into “Not My Responsibility” and “OverHeated,” Eilish needed some energy.
Track 9: Not My Responsibility
Length: 3:47
From the review: “Not My Responsibility” and “OverHeated” combine for a powerful statement on the media’s perception of Eilish’s body. Yet at a run time of over seven minutes, it feels like the message could be tightened.” In the spoken word portion of the pair, Eilish recites an intense poem over a hypnotic synth.
Track 10: OverHeated
Length: 3:34
From the review: “Not My Responsibility” and “OverHeated” combine for a powerful statement on the media’s perception of Eilish’s body. Yet at a run time of over seven minutes, it feels like the message could be tightened.” More of a song than “Not My Responsibility,” “OverHeated” is a musical sister to “I Didn’t Change My Number.”
Track 11: Everybody Dies
Length: 3:26
From the review: “Everybody Dies” feels like the opening to a more interesting Adele song but fails to build much beyond its concept.” Another bizarre placement from Eilish as she caps off a string of slower cuts. While it fails to stick out amidst the album, Eilish’s vocals pop here.
Track 12: Your Power
Length: 4:05
From the review: “Eilish lays her scars to bear over an acoustic guitar on the gripping “Your Power” as she chronicles the abuse suffered in a skewed relationship she had as a minor.” An album standout.
Track 13: NDA
Length: 3:15
From the review: “‘NDA‘…explores teenage romance as a pop star. The song’s title wryly references a lyric where Eilish forces a potential partner to sign an NDA over their encounter. Amidst this humor, however, lies anguish; by the song’s end, an auto-tuned Eilish begs to know if she took this relationship too far. ”
Track 14: Therefore I Am
Length: 2:53
From the review: “Therefore I Am” casually thrashes her former partner and other critics for their lack of relevance along with a bouncy beat.” The perfect song to pump up for an important meeting #girlboss.
Track 15: Happier Than Ever
Length: 4:58
From the review: “The song opens with a ukulele accompaniment evoking “The Mamas & The Papas,” as Billie softly lets her ex know she’s happier than ever without him. As he calls her drunk in the song’s second half, however, Billie loses her patience. The song shifts into a distorted rock anthem that sounds like the lovechild of Radiohead and Queen. Eilish’s vocal, lyrical, and musical chops are all on full display in what I’d consider her best song yet.”
Track 16: Male Fantasy
Length: 3:14
After exploring the depths of her feelings within her breakup, “Male Fantasy” is an honest admittance that Eilish still can’t hate her ex. The powerful acoustic track encompasses the album’s earlier themes of the male gaze and personal growth for a complete and fulfilling closer.
