YUNGBLUD - Idols

“Tell me, do you want to feel alive?”

Yungblud’s career has been rather up-and-down. Whilst clearly having passion and charisma, the Doncaster-born singer has oftentimes struggled with his music sounding self-indulgent and unfocused, and his output has varied in a way that's felt more like flailing than conscious experimentation. But, is this still the case on his fourth studio album, Idols?

The short answer is no, not at all. This record is Yungblud's most focused project to date, sticking to a fairly consistent, 90s alternative rock and Britpop-inspired sound, which is a huge and extremely welcome change from his messy, watered-down 2023 self-titled album. The instrumentals are very well-produced - the guitars follow the best traditions of the genre, with a slightly hazy quality to them; the synths are gentle and well-integrated; and the use of other instruments, such as the violins on “Idols Pt. I” and “Change”, add a great deal of texture. The mixes are well-worked, with no elements being drowned out, and combining together harmoniously. 

The lyrics tackle topics that feel very relevant to what this project represents - life's ever-changing nature, and the accompanying internal struggles, frustration, complex emotional journeys and uncertainty in interpersonal relationships. The vast majority of the writing has a great deal more restraint and self-awareness than Yungblud has ever shown before, almost completely avoiding the unnecessary hyperbole and degree of pretentiousness that tended to plague his previous work. The two title tracks, as well as the sprawling nine-minute opener “Hello, Heaven, Hello”, are written particularly strongly. 

The vocals have also improved greatly - well he's still highly expressive he mostly avoids overrotness and overbearing dramatics. Yungblud feels like a significantly more compelling narrator, coming off more genuine and less abrasive.

Overall, Idols is a body of work that shows Yungblud growing and maturing as an artist. While the issues that are regular in his past music do appear in a couple of instances, these flaws almost work in this album's favor and make it feel more human and sympathetic. If the rumors of a second part to this album are true, it is very intriguing what approach Yungblud will take. Hopefully, he can continue the trajectory he set on this record. 

7.4/10