I'm Only F**King Myself＜限定盤/Clear Vinyl＞

For years, Lola Young turned trauma and humor into brashly confessional songs before striking viral gold with her 2024 single "Messy." Its easy to hear why it became an international multi-platinum hit: Coming across like Amy Winehouse raised on Fleetwood Mac instead of 60s R&B and jazz, it transformed bleedingly raw feelings and glossy sonics into pop with edges jagged enough to stick in listeners memories. Its also easy to understand why Im Only F**king Myself feels shaped by "Messy"s success. Like that song (and the album it came from, This Wasnt Meant for You Anyway), Youngs third full-length overflows with catharsis thats often uncomfortable and always relatable. She has a song for every stage of dealing with big emotions, from "Walk All Over You"s sweetly steely empowerment to "who f**king cares" painfully self-aware desperation. No matter how bleak things get, Youngs wordplay is as sharp as ever; "If being mean was a habit/Baby, youd be addicted," from "SAD SOB STORY! :)," is one of the albums pithiest lyrics. As Young explores the compulsion to use people and substances for escape, it never feels less than authentic (late in 2024, her own struggles led to a short stay in rehab). Combined with her increasingly tight, confident songwriting, it makes for powerful moments such as "dGBPaler," a percolating breakup song that cuts ties with people and self-perceptions from the past and adds nuance to lines like "doin a whole load of nothin." At times, however, Im Only F**king Myself trades depth for viral potential. "F**K EVERYONE" is brassy and unapologetically over-the-top, but a little obvious compared to her earlier work. Likewise, on "Not Like That Anymore," Youngs theatrical delivery teeters between irony and self-parody. But just as "Messy" was best experienced as part of This Wasnt Meant for You Anyway, Im Only F**king Myself rewards those who want more than viral moments. Some of the best songs are reminders that its not just what she sings about that makes her music special, but how she sings about it. On "SPIDERS," its endearing to hear someone with a voice that could blow down houses afraid of a tiny bug, even if she reaches towering heights on the chorus. Youngs music is still as freewheeling with its sounds as it is with its moods. Its a thrill to hear her take control of songs as different as the expansive experimental rock of "CAN WE IGNORE IT? :(," the country meets R&B of "why do i feel better when i hurt you," and the Afrobeat-influenced lilt of "One Thing" (one of several songs that underscore how radical it still is for a woman to sing about lust that has nothing to do with love). Equally empowering and self-deprecating, raw and revealing, Im Only F**king Myself feels like a crossroads. The world will always need songs about heartache, revenge, and bidding good riddance to someone; though Young delivers them with style, theres a sense that shes got more to offer. ~ Heather Phares

TikTokで"Messy"がバズったことも記憶に新しいサウス・ロンドン出身のアーティストは、サード・アルバムである本作でこれまで以上に赤裸々な姿を見せている。"F**k Everyone"では〈好きでもない男とヤりたい〉と歌い、〈人生なんてクソみたいなもん 特に全部クスリで吹き飛ばしたら〉と紡ぐ"Not Like That Anymore"は、コカイン漬けだったというかつての自分を題材にした曲だ。アヴリル・ラヴィーンのようなポップ・パンクの側面が強い曲群は懐かしさを感じさせるが、そこにフォークやソウルの要素も込められる軽やかさはローラ・ヤングの特色だ。
bounce (C)近藤真弥