Beabadoobee Album Review || ‘Pylon’

Beabadoobee released her fourth studio album, Pylon , on September 18th, 2026. Written on the road while touring, the album leans heavily into classic grunge, Midwest emo, and 1990s radio rock. We will take a deep dive into each song and the meaning of the album.By: Cody Sample

The songs included in this album are:

“Pylon” “Sun Has Set” “Estranged” “Switchblade” “Write Me A Letter” “It’s Alright” “In Motion” “Memories” “Nothing to Prove” (feat. Hayley Williams) “Radio” “Powerlines” (feat. Brendan Yates) “Spark” “Despite That” “Satellite”

Pylon & The Road Home

The title track, “Pylon,” sets the stage for a rougher sonic direction driven by distorted guitars, live-band dynamics, and feedback.

Its name draws from the steel electricity towers beabadoobee passed constantly while touring, which served as a symbol of feeling linked to home despite isolation in the tour bus.

The second track, “Sun Has Set,” was released as the lead single ahead of the full project. It establishes the record’s aggressive palette with screamed vocals, riff-heavy guitars, and distorted amps.

“Estranged” and “Switchblade”follow closely to maintain the high-energy momentum of the album. “Switchblade” balances a driving bassline and playful vocal chants against a soaring guitar line and bursts of static feedback.

The record shifts textures with “Write Me A Letter,” which opens with a light, chiming guitar figure before breaking into sharper distortion.

It is followed by “It’s Alright”and “In Motion,” continuing the album’s fast-paced rock energy.

The Heart of the Record

The second half of the tracklist balances raw guitar aggression with introspective vulnerability.

“Memories” brings you in with nostalgic vibes before leading directly into one of the album’s major highlights: “Nothing To Prove,” featuring Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams.

Williams joins as a co-writer on the track, blending seamlessly with beabadoobee’s sharp lyricism.

Following “Radio,” the album features “Powerlines,”which highlights Turnstile vocalist Brendan Yates lending his signature falsetto against a gritty guitar texture.

Moving forward, the emotional climax, “Spark” and “Despite That” keep the pacing tight and concise.

Last but not least, the album closes out with “Satellite,” an expansive 4 and a half minute closer.

The final track anchors the record’s overarching themes of distance, longing, and personal growth experienced on the road.

Upon release, music critics praised Pylon for its fearless sonic pivot away from soft acoustic arrangements towards a heavier, garage-band aesthetic.

Reviewers noted that the raw production choices perfectly capture the restless energy of life spent jumping from venue to venue. Fans have heavily gravitated toward the collaboration tracks, hailing the record as a definitive evolution in her discography.

Pylon proves that embracing noise and emotional discomfort can result in some of an artist’s most compelling work.