Creating a thread for Holly Humberstone, as I’ve truly become obsessed with Cruel World over the past week.
The run from Make It All Better to Red Chevy is basically seven 10/10 songs. Die Happy has become my favourite in the context of the album, which is funny as I didn’t really take to it when she first released. It’s so romantic, sexy, and nostalgic sounding.
I love how on a few of the songs there’s a production build in the second verse or chorus, like the added synths on To Love Somebody and Die Happy. She sounds so much like Diana Vickers at the start of White Noise (millennial alert).
To Love Somebody is up there as one of my songs of the year. I’d never paid much attention to her before. But as someone said on PJ in its dying days that bridge on To Love Somebody is so addictive.
They should’ve led with White Noise instead of Beauty Pageant when the album dropped, seems like they’re really pushing for it as a single now that its gaining streams though. She’s performing on SNL UK on the 16th May
I think the bar has been really low for albums so far this year but this album is a clear stand out. I wasn’t massive of Die Happy before I heard it within the context of the album and now it’s one of my favourites. I think To Love Somebody is laced with crack and she really should’ve just led with that though. She has quite a few single choices left on the album if she wants to keep pushing too.
They just need to hope Abel’s people don’t hear it as it skirts a little close to Save Your Tears. But it’s such a good song, I would love it to smash.
Yeah I really need them to push ‘White Noise’. I’m also curious at the lack of UK dates yet, I wonder if they’re weighing their options - I’m hoping they don’t try for a 1 night at Wembley Arena or anything, I want an extensive tour!
Album of the year so far, for me. Blue Dream is just like a ton of bricks hitting the heart. I also love the whole gothic paper doll imaginary world she’s got going on in her lyric videos, making me feel both nostalgic and tender.
I saw her in Glasgow at the end of March, the UK dates have been and gone! A single becoming a chart hit would be incredible though and would warrant more touring surely, she’s seemingly building up a decent audience. Make It All Better is doing it for me at the moment.
I was revisiting her magnum opus, Scarlett, earlier and watching the video, and I love how she’s built a visual identity with this era and is leaning into the popstar-ness of it all more than she did before.
I’ve been a casual listener for the past few years and didn’t really listen to the last album but I am loving Cruel World! I briefly checked out To Love Somebody but Make It All Better popped up on my Spotify and really grabbed my attention. I find the album cover really striking too. Think I’ll be playing this a lot.
