Life Support is Heartfelt and Haunting, Bad Bitch Energy
One of the (and most certainly our) most anticipated album of the last 2 years is finally out. Pop and raw made a baby and it’s ‘Life Support’ by Madison Beer.
‘As She Pleases’ hit our bubblegum pop spot and we have been looking forward to a full album since. With every release, Madison shows of her range of musical and vocal capabilities. Taking us through various genres and not being afraid of putting out a 17 track debut album in 2021. Madison shows off her range and diversity throughout the album by adding bits and pieces of her aesthetic (such as playing around with the talkbox and vocoder, inserting background noises to add ambience, and individually tracking her vocal layers).
You can hear the influences from artists such as Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, and Daft Punk when listening to the album with each track bringing its own story and staying true to Madison’s sound and the works of Leroy Clampitt and Pete Nappi.
The Beginning
A beautiful start to the album. Harmonies come together to brush on a clean canvas and prepare it for what’s to come.
Good in Goodbye
We were NOT expecting this would be in Life Support, but we’re SO happy it is. Good in Goodbye is filled with metaphors on a toxic relationship and is complemented with haunting instrumentation that adds even more to the feeling of being fed up.
Default
Madison takes us through the trapped sensation of a challenging mental health state - showing the struggle between wanting to stay strong but also giving up. Her haunting vocals are accompanied by strings, making the experience more hollow and beautifully uncomfortable.
Follow The White Rabbit
Eclectic and difficult to navigate at times (in the sweetest way possible). This track is a hectic experience going back and forth between calm and anxious then learning to just ride the wave.
Effortlessly
Just as she puts it, the entire track feels like she’s fading and almost becoming inaudible. We hear her drowning in the music and can’t help but go down with her. We hear the struggle in her voice - trying to keep her head up.
Stay Numb and Carry On
A more laid back track. Her honesty and the instrumentation remind us of Stained Glass, but this time, Madison takes us through her state of mind during a what seems like a toxic relationship.
Blue
We hear a Lana Del Rey inspiration in the start then immediately take it back when Madison’s now signature musical approach of eerie layered vocals comes in to introduce us to the chorus. A bitter sweet track that’s starts off soft and takes us through a rush of battling emotions. A rollercoaster.
Interlude
Elegant to majestic. A perfect interlude to take us into the next chapter of the album.
Homesick
Feeling homesick and not one with humans on earth, Madison takes us through a serene storytelling of outer space and the peace that she believes she would carry if she were there versus here. To our happy surprise, she closes the track by sampling one of her favourite series, Rick and Morty.
Selfish
Well fuck. This is a tell-all. The vulnerability in her voice and lyrics has earned Madison her fastest Gold Certification In United States. An honest piece of art that is so beautifully produced and kept simple and elegant.
Sour Times
The echoey track (almost like from an empty room/heart) follows a build up that comes crashing in the chorus. A powerful track where she speaks on her truth in a relationship - taking a stance in not wanting to stay during ‘sour times’ and making her way out.
BOYSHIT
True to pop, this track is IT! While majority of the track is pop, we can hear Madison’s take throughout with the grand opening. This breakup song talks about her lack of ability to understand a boy (he’s no man) who isn’t able to talk, communicate or act his age. Her vocabulary choice of ‘BOYSHIT’ is an obvious play on ‘bullshit’. She doesn’t speak it. She doesn’t understand it. She isn’t going to entertain it.
Baby
Sexy and provocative - this pop track is here to make you feel good. This is Madison’s first time being blatantly sexual and we’re here for it. A song about confidence and simply being that bitch.
Stained Glass
A haunting track covering the pain in her lyrics and the hollowness in the backing instruments. Speaking directly to society and her circle, her plead for kindness gives a nod towards the importance mental health and reminds us to be more gentle with one another.
Emotional Bruises
The juxtaposition of her romantic instrumentation and the fed up lyrics makes the experience feel closer to the toxicity of her relationship. Madison keeps the sweet tenderness of the music throughout the track - making it difficult to find a separation between the blinding emotions of a toxic relationship and the truth.
Everything Happens for a Reason
A heartbreak song with strings and layered vocals. Madison really shows off her higher range when confessing her feelings.
Channel Surfing/The End
A behind the scenes listen to Madison’s recording sessions and inspirations. Wrapping up the album just like a credits roll at the end of a coming of age film.
This debut album is beautiful and feels like a diary - learning about the different phases in her relationships, her confidence as a woman, and her struggles with mental health. Madison has definitely brought exactly what we were hoping she would. The record stays true to the music she’s inspired by, the sounds that excite her, and lyrics that are honest.
We’re excited this era has officially begun and can’t wait for live performances, music videos, and more things that continue to bring this piece of art to life.
