Jehnny Beth – You Heartbreaker, You

      Jehnny Beth is back with her second solo album, ‘You Heartbreaker, You’, released through Fiction Records. This new record follows her 2021 collaboration with Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie, ‘Utopian Ashes’, which explored the slow separation of a couple as they navigate the loneliness of a deteriorating relationship. In contrast, ‘You Heartbreaker, You’ presents a markedly different tone.

      Regarding the album, Beth remarks, “We’re living in a dark era, filled with drama and brutal tragedy. It became evident to me that during these times, we either master the art of screaming or learn to whisper.” In the track ‘Broken Rib’, Beth encourages us to scream, stating, “we learn to breathe with a broken rib,” suggesting that while screaming can be revealing, the subsequent anger will eventually feel purposeful and natural, akin to the way it’s socially acceptable to whisper politely.

      Following ‘Broken Rib’ is ‘No Good For People’, which features electronic elements reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails. Beth drew inspiration for this track after re-watching True Detective, the acclaimed American police drama focused on confronting internal corruption. On the track's inspiration, she shares, “There’s a scene at the end where Matthew McConaughey’s character admits he can be difficult to live with: ‘I don’t mean to, but I can be…critical. Sometimes I think I’m just not good for people... I wear them down.’ It resonated with me because it highlights the challenge of coexisting with others and the fragile balance where honesty can be heartbreaking.”

      The next tracks – ‘Obsession’, ‘Out of my Reach’, and ‘I Still Believe’ – are energetic. ‘Out of My Reach’ features a richer guitar sound, complemented by Beth’s commanding vocals, reminiscent of Deftones. ‘I Still Believe’ carries a post-punk vibe but from a more assertive position. The track is dark and gradually builds intensity for the listener.

      ‘Reality’ opens with the sound of shattering glass, grabbing immediate attention and echoing the album's theme of feeling disillusioned about the world, as it laments, “We want love like it happens in a dream,” illustrating our pursuit of romance despite underlying frustration that could be seen as passion. ‘Reality’ seamlessly transitions into the next track, ‘Stop Me Now’.

      Beth sings with intense emotion, yet there’s a cathartic quality to the unsettling sound. With a brooding guitar backdrop, she repeatedly questions, “How many years are we going to last?” Ultimately, she concludes the song with, “Nothing can stop me now.”

      This leads into ‘High Resolution Sadness,’ which is structured like a panic attack, propelled by a chaotic, anger-laden drumbeat. The track resembles PJ Harvey’s haunting ‘Down by the Water’ as Beth whispers, “Put down the screens,” before shifting into a slightly unhinged vocal delivery, often proclaiming, “I want to feel love.”

      The final track, ‘I See Your Pain’, is notably slower, highlighting her nearly isolated and crackling vocals, paired with a soft yet purposeful guitar strum. It builds to a powerful vocal crescendo as she sings, “I See Your Pain,” alternating between clear and strong delivery and a more exorcising and liberated style as the track nears its conclusion.

      ‘You Heartbreaker, You’ is a compelling listen. Despite its industrial and polished sound, the clarity of Beth’s voice shines through the gloss enveloping the album. Her voice may be jarring at first, but as the album progresses, the frustration becomes infectious, demonstrating that anger is not something to fear.

      Rating: 7/10

      Words: Margot MacLeod