REVIEW: total tommy Brings Bedroom Pop Back with a Bang
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY KYLEE WIENS ☆
FROM SICKLY SWEET, TO SILLY, SOUR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN – meet neo-bedroom pop icon Jess Holt, aka total tommy. In an album that blurs the edges between genres and questions the role of musical convention, total tommy delivers a high-octane joyride through space and sound. Bruises, the debut album release from the rising Aussie star, invites listeners into the trials and tribulations of coming of age. Through joys and hardships, love and heartbreak, mistakes and lessons learned, total tommy vulnerably shares a slice of her heart through sonic expression. The album displays how our experiences shape our identity, and that change is the only constant to rely on. Witty, tender, and emotional, total tommy invites listeners into the magic of her inner world.
The opening track, “Adeline,” introduces the tone of the album with a syncopated drum beat – perhaps mimicking a racing heart. Art pop elements such as layered saccharine vocal tracks contribute to the sensitive ode to Holt’s younger self. Total tommy reflects on her personal growth and newfound confidence by highlighting her younger self's struggles. The following track, “Losing Out,” takes on a darker tone. An accusatory, sprechstimme declaration that (you) “Haven’t told your wife and kids about the mess you made” introduces themes of guilt and regret that weave throughout the album. Holt explains, “It’s a song I wouldn’t have been brave enough to write a few years ago because the people it’s about know it’s about them. Now, I just write and let it out, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
“Real” features light and springy instrumentation contrasted by vulnerable lyricism. Lines like “Please say you want me back ‘cause I want you back” and “I’ve always been good at hurtin’” continue to illuminate the theme of regret that drives the album.
“SODA” is as sweet and bubbly as the title would suggest. The line “I would die to do it over” introduces the idea of desire contrasting against regret. As the album continues, this tension produces emotional confusion that Holt reckons with both sonically and lyrically.
Standout track “Ribs” is introduced with acoustic guitar and lightly-reverberated vocals. The line “Just wanna make you better but I’m bad at this” illustrates the pain of wanting to help someone you love but not knowing how. Holt describes the track as being “about a close friend who went through significant struggles. [I] wanted to convey that things will get better.” “SPIDER” displays total tommy’s stylistic range with classic rock elements. “Plus One” is a tale of requited desire, both steamy and passionate. In this track, desire seems to outweigh the regret that is alluded to in previous tracks, marking a thematic shift in growing past the pains of shame.
The final three tracks of the album represent Holt’s growth through the turbulence of her coming-of-age years. “Amsterdam” features drums matching footsteps, as Holt unveils her vulnerability through lines like “Tell me what you really think of me.” “Girlfriend” is a tale of finding happiness again after pain, and both the joys and consequences of requited love.
Bedroom pop elements help to illustrate the joys of a newfound relationship, while lyrics like “In a bubble in this loveland” relay that sometimes new relationships can cause us to isolate ourselves from others.
The closing number “Shark Attacks” features spacious, isolated instrumentals and atmospheric vocal tracks. The tender chorus “I’d go and do it again for you” illustrates the bittersweet ache of longing, and how desire still wins out over suffering in the end.
According to Holt, “The album is about learning from mistakes without being weighed down by regret. It’s about taking responsibility for your actions and using that to move forward. I’ve had a whirlwind few years, and this record reflects taking stock and owning up to things.” Bruises speaks to the wounds of growing up and into oneself, an experience that is deeply relatable for all kinds of listeners. The maturity and honesty required to produce such a record is a rare feat. Pairing these themes with Holt’s musical experimentation – the album is a must-listen for yearning hearts everywhere. Bruises is out on all streaming platforms now, and be sure to stay on the lookout for total tommy’s future projects.
