**Album Review**
5 Stars: Her most focused and passionate record.
Reviewer: Otis Robinson
Released: 25th April 2025
Label: Polydor
On her third album, ‘A Complicated Woman’, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known as Self Esteem, moves away from the industrial alt-pop that characterized her acclaimed second album ‘Prioritise Pleasure’. Instead, she focuses on the soulful essence at the core of her message. The upbeat pop elements are still present—take, for instance, her empowering anthem against unworthy men, ‘Cheers To Me’—but what shines through most is her essence; a depiction of the contemporary woman, both active and contemplative. Accompanied by a spirited choir, Taylor's enthusiastic explorations of femininity traverse the routine monotony of aging, the dreariness of a Groundhog Day existence, and the release that comes with deeper self-examination as age solidifies her complexities. This album, her most concentrated and fervent to date, interweaves Taylor's distinct Sheffield voice with the emotional depth representative of countless women—an intertwined individual hesitant to simplify herself because her intricacy fosters connection.
‘A Complicated Woman’ largely embodies the late-night discussions that remind people of the shared human experience and its inherent aimlessness—along with the chaotic nature of love involving men (‘Mother’). However, this is not meant to evoke melancholy; rather, it drives a raw sense of motivation (‘Focus is Power’). Taylor’s artistry possesses a transformative quality: ‘A Complicated Woman’ enables listeners to feel lighter; each song evokes a universal experience relevant to both her and her audience. "I know way too much to ever fall in love," she asserts on the cinematic, transcendent closing track ‘The Deep Blue Okay’, "so I’ll roll on unmerrily." The unyielding Self Esteem ethos is most effectively captured at the album's outset through the spoken word piece ‘I Do And I Don’t Care’, which reassures that everything is fine when shared: "We’re not pursuing happiness anymore, girls, we’re pursuing stillness / The great big still / The deep blue okay / And we’re okay today."
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**More Like This**
**Booking Now**
Self Esteem shares new single ‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’, announces major UK & Ireland headlining tour
Rebecca Lucy Taylor will embark on her largest headlining tour to date this October, culminating in a performance at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
25th March 2025
**Listen**
Self Esteem releases provocative new single ‘69’, from upcoming album ‘A Complicated Woman’
Rebecca Lucy Taylor follows her recent track ‘Focus Is Power’ with a catchy, lip-sync worthy new hit.
14th February 2025
**Festivals**
End Of The Road announces new additions to 2025 lineup
Featuring acts like Viagra Boys, Matt Berninger, and DIIV, the festival will take place at Larmer Tree Gardens this August.
14th February 2025
**Cover Feature**
The Many Faces Of Self Esteem
Nearly 20 years after beginning her career in the industry, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has finally emerged as a recognized pop star. Is it an improvement? Is it a decline? Is she content? Does any of it hold significance? On her third album, ‘A Complicated Woman’, we discover an artist confronting the ambiguities of life and transforming them into vibrant colors.
10th February 2025
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