<COPINGMECHANISM>
WILLOW made her return to music in 2021 with her infectious pop-punk- and indie-rock-style fourth album, *lately I feel EVERYTHING*, a departure from the neo-soul and alt-R&B of her previous albums. For her fifth album (co-produced by singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Greatti), the emo-punk star deals with heartbreak the best way she knows how: through catchy hooks rife with angst against crashing cymbals and sharp bass riffs, leaning into a grittier sound than its predecessor. The album opener “maybe it’s my fault” chronicles the rise and fall of a relationship, with WILLOW coming to terms with the possibility that her actions may have caused its downfall. The song begins with WILLOW reminiscing on the whirlwind early days over angelic background vocals, steadily intensifying to when the first fight happens. “I don’t know/How I can forgive you/It’s all in my mind, it’s all in my mind/I try to rewind and all of the while, I’m hurtin’ inside/It’s your fault/Maybe it’s my fault,” she sings. The album serves as a cathartic purging of emotions across each of its 11 tracks. Whether it’s about feeling the physical and mental isolation of moving through the world (“curious/furious,” “WHY?”) or reflecting on a fractured relationship (“Split,” “Coping Mechanism”), WILLOW showcases her vulnerability with ease.
The Gen Z philosopher’s hard-rock era continues with an album about love and hurt, pain and healing, done with great nuance but not quite enough originality.
After taking her first steps into pop-punk on 2021's 'lately I feel EVERYTHING', Willow Smith doubles down and levels up on her fifth album
is less an Academy Award-esque slap and more a gentle pat administered by a doting grandma – it’s nothing you’ve not seen before. Worth a go, but don’t expect too much.
After working through electronic pop, spacey R&B and psychedelic folk, she’s found a winning formula
Building upon the stylistic jump of 2021's Lately I Feel Everything, Willow takes that effort's pop-punk energy and aggressive rock spirit and bests it with her fifth full-length, Coping Mechanism.
Around the outset of summer 2021, articles declaring a pop-punk revival started to proliferate, hypothesizing its causes and naming its amba...
Will and Jada’s shapeshifting youngest turns shards of metal, operatic harmonies, alt-rock and avant garde electro into a confident album without breaking a sweat
Willow Smith tackles trauma, Bush deliver clumsy social commentary, Courtney Marie Andrews gets vulnerable, Flohio is rap’s bright new thing