Honest lyricism and captivating vocals
Oliver Sim recently released his debut album, Hideous Bastard. He is well known for being the vocalist, songwriter, and bassist of the accomplished indie band The xx. He takes this album solo to explore his personal stories and sentiments in his own style. He writes heartbreakingly honest tracks that touch on topics from love to self-esteem and coming out as queer. His vocals are impressive, and he worked on the instrumentation and production with bandmate Jamie xx. This album is an introspective and personal story from top to bottom with breathtaking vocals.
The first track, “Hideous,” begins the album with an honest reflection that sets the importance of lyrics on the album to high standards. He sings about feeling hideous after not being appreciated by those around him. He also touches on themes of not being accepted as queer and the struggles that his journey has inflicted on him. Honest and introspective, the lyrics are filled with pain that he captures well with his vocals, belting and crying over haunting production. The accompaniment is quiet and lets the vocals and lyrics sit in the spotlight but adds to the pain and haunting emotion through rhythmic synth arpeggios and orchestral strings.
The following track, “Romance With A Memory,” is a lighter song but still honest. He sings about accidentally falling for the idea of a person rather than the person themselves. There is a harbored resentment towards this person because they could never live up to the expectations. The instrumentation is interesting and haunting on this track as well. With very rhythmic electronic sounds, the listener is drawn in, and during the chorus, layered harmonies that go extremely low change the vibe of the song to a more spooky sound that draws the listener back in.
The sixth track, “Saccharine,” is also a very honest and heartfelt story. He sings about not being treated well by others, so when he finds someone, it feels overpowering and wrong. There is a danger of being treated too well, and he is trying to sort through his feelings. The lyrics are honest and heartbreaking. His vocals match that tone as they are gentle and melancholic, filled with cracks and cries of emotion. The instrumentation matches the tone as well. With echoey chords playing in the background, a guitar is gently plucked, and it crescendos as his feelings surmount.
The ninth track, “Fruit,” is one of the most popular. Once again, his honest lyrics capture the listener. This song is a reflection on being queer and navigating finding love while others tell you it is wrong. He sings about his family’s reflection on his identity, what is right and wrong, and if it matters to make others proud. The song references the bible as he encourages other queer people to “take a bite” of the forbidden fruit and then sings about the liberation that it brings, even if others consider it a sin. Clever and honest, these lyrics tell a personal story that many will find comforting and relatable in the queer community. On top of that, the production is upbeat and energetic, leaving the listener full of hope.
The final track of the album, “Run The Credits,” is a closing narrative. He refers to many stories and movies and sings about the ending. He doesn’t fear the end or death because it is inevitable. It is a dark yet truthful end to the album. The production is a reminder to the listener of his sound, where he combines elements of electro music with synths and catchy beats with more natural sounds like pianos. It is a perfect closing track to an impressive album that is sure to keep the listeners coming back for more.
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