PVRIS - ‘USE ME’ (2020) REVIEW

PVRIS - ‘USE ME’ (2020) REVIEW

As the album cover indicates, fiery frontwoman Lyndsey Gunnulfsen has stepped forward in this era for the band and is now completely in the driver's seat. Lynn explained how she was already the creative force, previously in full length’s ‘White Noise’ (2014), ‘All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell’ (2017) and most definitely ‘Hallucinations‘EP (2019) but has only chosen to take credit as of late. ‘Use Me’ looks at PVRIS in a way they haven’t before, leaving the release a glittering addition to their flawless discography.

Opening this new venture,’Gimme A Minute’ pulsates through our bones, the intro replicating anything from ‘The Purge’ alarm to a heartbeat. Exploring the theme of the track, lyrics ‘told me to sing while I was choked’ conveys how it felt for Lyndsey when she was struggling with her vocals back in 2017. ‘A year of lows spent so high’ also reinforces how she was once struggling in PVRIS’ last era, but now ferociously erupting into a huge bassline to initiate the chorus of ‘Gimme A Minute’ . Flaunting her now perfect voice, Lynn heightens the track with intricate harmonies and later a guitar solo from herself, depicted in the music video for the track.

‘Dead Weight’ was the introduction to this era, talking about shedding any old skin in lyrics ‘dead weight hanging off of my shoulders’ layered over electronic beats. The track is laced with gold glitter and metallic beats to match, powerful lyrics ‘taking wings off a goddess, if I’m being honest’ tying the track together with honesty and vibrance.

Then, intertwining the album effortlessly, we’re met with ‘Stay Gold’, a sentimental track Lynn once said was for PVRIS fans. Layered with gentle acoustic guitar and bright pop beats, Lynn unfolds the track with ‘If you’re just a wind passing through, I’d still be grateful’, beginning an ethereal vision. The track holds a whimsical atmosphere inside the verses but then detonates into a shining pop track, accentuating Lynn’s vulnerable lyrics and polished voice. ‘Wish I could keep you in amber, safe from the outside - hope that you’ll always stay gold’ holds a new profound sentiment with every listen, making it one of the most touching tracks on the full-length.

‘Good To Be Alive’ explores how it feels to learn about yourself and elaborates the helpless feeling in ‘Is this body even mine?’, connoting the feeling of watching life through your eyes but as if you’re not really there. Through lyrics ‘feels good to be alive but I hate my life’ gives the idea of existing everyday but not actually living, something that isn’t spoken about in music often. What sounds like multiple layers of Lynn’s voice in the chorus, reflecting how you’re not alone in these feelings.

‘Death of Me’ introduced this new era for PVRIS back in July 2019, their first release since ‘AWKOHAWNOH’ and definitely a huge comeback and reminding everyone how their music is still very much alive. Between the ‘All We Know Of Heaven,’ tour and ‘Death of Me’, Lynn had to relearn how to use her voice. Their comeback was during Reading Festival 2019, shortly after sharing ‘Death of Me’ and ‘Hallucinations’ - looking visibly happier and healthier, the band performed one of their most memorable sets ever, with thousands singing ‘baby, you could be the death of me’ back at them.

Tracks ‘Old Wounds’ and ‘Hallucinations’ were released on the ‘Hallucinations’ EP back in October 2019, but both slot excellently into the world of ‘Use Me’. With ‘Old Wounds’ erratic bassline, tender lyrics and an emotional vocal in ‘I think I could love you til’ the day that you die’ and ‘Hallucinations’ fiery guitars and twisting bassline fitting perfectly.

Lynn bears all in ‘Loveless’, stripped of all the funky beats that are in the majority of the full-length but replaced with acoustic guitar and her delicate voice. ‘I gave you tears when you wanted emotion’ are just some of the lyrics where she sings about a past lover in this vulnerable track. Following this, ‘January Rain’ shares similar emotions but with more components paired with Lyndsey’s piercing lyrics ‘always knew you would leave me dry, wasn’t ready to say goodbye’. These tracks give the album a personal touch, as though Lynn touched every album with her own hands.

Title track ‘Use Me (feat.070 Shake)’ seamlessly feeds into the full-length, focusing on Lynn’s falsetto and with the fresh feature of 070 Shake, providing a new flavour to PVRIS through this moody track. While ‘Wish You Well’ invites the listener into a different world, a bouncy track with a criminal bassline, making stand-out tracks on this album.

‘Use Me’ might be dissimilar to previous PVRIS’ previous releases but that means nothing when this full-length is laced with content, emotional vulnerability, honesty and gold. This album is authentic to Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, we learn what it’s like inside her head while experiencing the height of her artistry.

Tune into the ‘Use Me’ live experience on April 17th 2021, 5pm PST/ 8pm EST via Pillar Music to be a part of the last livestream.