3.5 stars
Chicago based four-piece indie-pop band Beach Bunny made a name for themselves with their 2018 EP “Prom Queen,” which was themed around heartbreak and loss. That theme continues with “Honeymoon,” dealing with raw emotion that anyone can relate to all in one indie-pop package.
“Honeymoon” flies out the gate with “Promises.” The tapping of the snare to settle you in, the soft but strained voice of lead singer Lilli Trifilio, the ramping up of the guitar and the gut-wrenching question, “When you’re alone in your bedroom do you ever think of me?” does a good job setting the tone for the entire album. The album focuses on coping with being alone and struggling to get that other person out of your head. The following song, “Cuffing Season,” is a bit of a low point on the album, though it has some fun moments in the chorus. It plays to their sad-but-relatable brand, supported by the lines “Sometimes I like being on my own / I’m scared of winding up alone.” It feels incredibly honest, like all their work does, but it also feels the most like a dime-store Alvvays song.
Something that sticks out to me about Beach Bunny is that, despite their name, they don’t evoke much typical surf rock. The aforementioned Alvvays fit that bill more while Beach Bunny is more of an indie-pop unit. They evoke early 2000s teen rock more than anything. Specifically, the song “Ms. California” which succeeds despite how silly it is. It’s like the best Avril Lavigne song that she never released.
The pacing of the album is exceptional. It covers its bases well and runs at a clean 25 minutes. It does everything it can do with its premise and directions. There are the fast, fun songs that are sad if you listen to the lyrics, and then there are the sad, slow songs that manage not to detract too much from the overall upbeat vibe of the album. The balance that it finds between sadness and fun is key and is indicative of the creators. The album has sad songwriting but very fun instrumentation. Even songs like the incredibly somber “Racetrack” provide the listener with something they can find comfort in. “Honeymoon” brings out many feelings, but the one that it treats its listener to the most is comfort. The level of honesty displayed is commendable, and it gives the listener something that they can relate to. It asks questions and brings listeners back to lonely nights, break-ups and love-filled daydreams.
It is easy to view “Honeymoon” as just another indie-pop album and Beach Bunny as just another indie-pop band and if that is your ultimate takeaway then that’s understandable. While they have a good sound, it’s certainly not the most unique. If you threw this album in a mix, it may be hard to pull tracks out from the rest of the pack. Despite that, I do think that they are a good indie-pop band that makes inoffensive and entertaining music. “Honeymoon” is aptly named, as it is fun, but, much like the honeymoon phase, doesn’t have much staying-power.
