Album Review: Blondshell - 'If You Asked For A Picture
Blondshell’s second record If You Asked For A Picture is a triumph.
Sabrina Teitelbaum aka Blondshell, has released her sophomore album and it’s every bit as thrilling and wonderful as her self-titled debut, which came out in 2023 and impressed me so much that I knew I would continue to follow her career, and what a smart decision that was from me, because her follow-up album is sensational.
The album’s title comes from a poem titled Dogfish, by iconic poet Mary Oliver, and it resonated with Teitelbaum. This album is also very much about giving us snippets into her life and mind.
While the two records are similar in sound and style, If You Asked For A Picture is more introspective and interior. It opens with the track Thumbtack, which is a wonderful acoustic led song with vivid imagery and memorable lines, much like all Blondshell songs. “You’re a thumbtack in my side/A dog bite/You distract/From what’s worse so I will let you/Keep a ball chain on my leg” She sings during the chorus, which is definitely one that stays with you.
My personal highlight from the album is a track titled T&A. it was released as a single earlier in the year, and a definite contender for one of the best singles released this year. The guitar work throughout the track is spectacular, and loud as hell, which is exactly why it works so well. Her voice is clear and concise; the production is clean and crispy. “Letting him in, why don’t the good ones love me? Watching him fall/Watching him go right in front of me”Teitelbaum sings in the chorus. It’s one that I imagine will be incredible live, perfect for concerts and festivals. It’s very tongue-in-cheek and almost funny at times, too, as is the rest of the record. One of my favourite things about Blondshell as an artist is the fact that when you’re listening to her songs, you occasionally do a double take with your ears, but in the best way. Artists that have courage to say what they truly want are so deeply important to the industry, now and forever.
Another wonderful song is Arms, which follows T&A. it’s moody, atmospheric and sassy, with hints of grunge. “I don’t wanna be your mom/But you’re not strong enough” she opens the song boldly. It seems to be a song for girls everywhere, and a warning not to try to save and fix people. “Oh well, you’re not gonna save him, save him, save him.” She sings together with stunning backing vocals.
Certainly, one of the most candid songs on the album is What’s Fair, also a single, about a mother-daughter relationship that appears to be a little estranged. Sonically, it’s pacy and up-tempo, but lyrically it’s actually quite sad at times, and talks about a mother that is over-critical. “What’s fair? What’s a fair assessment of the job you did? Do you ever even regret it?” It feels like new territory, musically.
Following that is another single, Two Times, which is a fantastic modern love song. It’s almost like a stream of consciousness, but again, it’s very honest and candid. “I’ll come back if you put me down two times/You try hard to make me yours/But once you get me, I get bored/I’ll come back if you put me down two times” Teitelbaum sings somewhat leisurely. Her vocals truly shine on this track, and it really shows how vocally talented she is.
A running theme on the album is growing up, or looking back at your younger days and ruminating, especially on tracks such as Event of a Fire and 23’s a Baby. On the latter, Teitelbaum said: ‘The song is partially about being in your twenties and feeling like you’re supposed to know everything (your parents even had kids around that age!) yet you’re truly in the weeds trying to figure out who you are. I wanted it to have a bit of a nursery rhyme feel. It’s a heavy subject so it was important to have fun when we made it.’
And it’s a lot of fun to listen to. If You Asked For A Picture is a deeply candid and confident record, but it doesn’t shy away from asking important questions.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
