"Billie Eilish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?" Album of the Decade or Overrated Industry Plant Debut


    I specifically remember where I was when this album was released. At the time I had never heard of Eilish, but Bad Guy had blown up so much that it was impossible not to escape Billie or this album. I'm still not too crazy about that song to be honest, but what really got me to listen to this album when it first came out was the track, wish you were gay, which is still fantastic in my opinion.  So when my friend CJ decided to loudly (and incorrectly) claim this album was one of the best pop albums of the 2010's I had to laugh. I mean I could understand where he was coming from, and I certainly thought this album was good. But to be one of the best was a tall task, one that I was unsure I felt had much merit. Despite that, I did enjoy the album at the time, so it's only fair I give it a proper shake once more to see just exactly how Billie Eilish's debut album stacks up all these years later. And so without further ado, my track-by-track review.

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

!!!!!!! - N/A 

bad guy - 65/100 Why do I have mixed feelings about this song? I suppose a small part of it might be the fact that it was so popular and I was in my super hipster phase, but frankly it's just the instrumental . I don't even play Plants vs. Zombies, nor do I associate the song with that game but the short instrumental break is kind of goofy to me. Don't get me wrong I don't actually hate it I just would never play it to listen to myself. I forgot how goofy the ending of this song is to me as well I'm sorry I just can't take it seriously. Everything is catchy but the weird instrumental and the outro.

xanny - 85/100 I quite like this song. Especially the bridge which I think is beautiful. Honestly, I feel like the industry plant allegations made a lot of people hate Billie but I can't deny that her and her brother are talented musicians. A song like this might be slow and not what I usually like but it's catchy and I'd say it fits into the whole gloomy atmosphere of the album. 

you should see me in a crown - 55/100 It's songs like these where I find it difficult to rate this album, and it's what stops me from rating it any higher. Like this song is good enough, the verses at least, but it completely loses me at the chorus. I just don't particularly enjoy it, maybe it's the blaring beat, maybe it's the lyrics, but it really just turns me off.

all the good girls go to hell - 77/100 Look you might find the whole devil imagery cringy, but I listen to Pierce the Veil and when it comes to bands in that strain you just kind of take the edgy lyrics as they come and try to enjoy the music. And when it comes to this song I do enjoy this tune, it' has a little pep in it's step and unlike bad guy I enjoy the instrumental during the chorus.

wish you were gay - 92/100 Like I said this is easily my favourite song by Billie. What more could you want from a song? It's catchy, relatable, and replayable too. Also while still feeling pretty stripped back? Considering how soft Billie's voice is it's quite impressive what Finneas has managed to do with these sort of contrasting loud-soft parts in all the songs on this album.

when the party's over - 85/100 As someone who likes to put on slow songs when they're sad and let it take over, I'll admit that Eilish is quite good at writing them, I think it's her voice I can really feel the emotion in them, and her softer tones fit the style well. This is one of the songs I have in my sad, slow songs playlist and I have to say as someone who can sometimes be picky with their slow songs Billie really does a good job of differentiating herself from the crowd of often samey sounding slow, sad songs.

8 - 75/100 How do I feel about all of these uklele songs that have popped up in the 2010's? Well I like Riptide, and I still listen to 21 Pilots, so I suppose that should answer your question about how I probably feel about this song. I think the main thing letting me rate it higher is the high pitched voice, hyperpop is usually the only genre where I enjoy that sort of thing, sorry Billie.

my strange addiction - 80/100 This song is sneakily good, and out of all of the "faster" songs off of this album this one is definitely my favourite. I don't particularly care for all of The Office clips that play in-between but the song is catchy in spite of it.

bury a friend - 60/100 This song is fine I suppose and I don't find it as goofy as a song like you should see me in a crown, but I wouldn't say I would enjoy it or listen to it again.

ilomilo - 50/100 Honestly? This song is kind of boring to me, nothing's wrong with it but I never quite understood the appeal. At the very least you should see me in a crown makes me feels things. This song is two and a half minutes long and honestly I thought it was shorter that's how quickly it passed me by.

listen before i go - 70/100 Worse than when the party's over but still a decent slow song I'd say. I particularly like the outro to this song but it lacks the same sort of emotion that I really loved in when the party's over.

i love you - 85/100 This song is also on my slow songs playlist. Pretty much every compliment I had for when the party's over applies to this song. While it might have the same core elements as a lot of other slow songs that sound kind of similar, I really do love Billie's singing for this style of song. Once again the bridge of this song is amazing, if a little short.

goodbye - 50/100 A solid enough ending that combines lyrics from all the tracks. Not an outstanding song nor one that stood out to me enough though.

Final Score: 78/100

    Honestly, if I just liked some of the "edgier" parts of this album it easily climbs into the 80 range for me. I mean it has all the parts that would make any album a standout for me. It has songs I really love and go back to frequently, and it also has good variety in the types of songs it contains, meaning I can like different parts of it more at different times. I also just think the general mood of the album is established very well, and I still think it's Billie's strongest project. Would I call it one of the best pop albums of the 2010's? I'd say in terms of mainstream pop it's decently high, but personally I was always a bigger fan of the glammier, happier pop. Even still, I have to say good job Billie Eilish, this album still impresses me all these years later.

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