Nobody’s Girl is lyrically dominant.
Amanda Shires shares personal thoughts and stories on her eighth studio album, Nobody’s Girl. The instrumental track with deep piano and whining symphonic elements, “Intro,” leads gracefully into “Way It Goes,” a low beat track that exudes power and emotion. Shires’ voice floats on top of the production on “Way It Goes,” telling the story that “Intro” was telling without any words.
A story about the concept of just existing and living life, “Living,” brings us through a melancholy story about life. “Just existing can be hard maybe living is an art / Living when I’m honest it can be punishing.” At the end of the track, there is a muffled voice speaking, “You should have seen the way she withered without whaling, there was nothing she could do, a quiet death.”
Continuing the theme of struggle and life, “Lose It For A While” is a raw message where Shires exemplifies how she is feeling on the verge of an explosion. “Oh, I’m not doin’ okay today feel in the way a lot of days / I can’t disassociate / but everything breaks.” It is always nice to hear a calming sound in the background of thoughts like this, which helps listeners feel a sense of calm while experiencing this feeling. This calm gets broken a little after the halfway mark when the drums heat up and Shires’ voice belts out and twists, finally allowing herself to break and explode.
With a pop-country sounding, upbeat tempo, “Strange Dreams” showcases a more light and airy sound and vibe than the rest of the album. This song builds with mystical sounds and cheerful riffs.
Overall, this album is consistent and heartfelt. Amanda Shires is not afraid of being vulnerable and honest. Every last song on Nobody’s Girl has its own personality and simultaneously ties back to the rest.
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