What do you do when your own needs conflict with each other? Phoebe Green explores her inner contradictions, dysfunctional behavior and mental health on her debut album. So the album title LUCKY ME can be understood ironically. In her narrative she is the antiheroine herself, dissecting the fear of commitment, feelings of guilt, self-sabotage and intricate communication patterns that have accumulated over the course of her 24 years.
On “Clean,” her soft vocals are drowned out by reverb-soaked guitar riffs and fluffy pads, as if she’s lost in thought. As simple as the melodies and as charming as the mixture of pop and electronica seem, the lyrics by the musician from Manchester are also undisguised, without flourishes and metaphors.
“Don’t talk like that you’re such a brat,” she snaps at herself on the title track, which reflects how difficult it is to take your mental health issues seriously when you’ve had a privileged childhood. But LUCKY ME is ultimately a successful therapy session: the artist reconciles with herself, including her unpleasant character traits. This radical self-acceptance is almost contagious when listening.
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