Phoebe Bridgers released “Stranger In The Alps” in 2017, to massive success and critical claim. 3 years later, she followed it up with “Punisher”, to an even greater acclaim. “Punisher” peaked at 43 in the US charts, while reaching a staggering 6 in the UK, with the lead single “Kyoto” reaching number 15 in the US.

The album opens on “DVD Menu” a haunting, ambient track that sets the stage for the rest of the album. The album has this sort of depressing, fake-happy track list that is perfectly set up by the opener. The second song on the album, “Garden Song” perfectly exemplifies this, talking about how “when your skinhead neighbor goes missing, [she’ll] plant a garden.” This is put to a sort of bittersweet track, despite its contents.

A recurring theme in the album is the need and desire to be someone you’re not, seen perfectly in the third track, “Kyoto”. The track talks about her trip to Kyoto in Japan, when someone calls her on a payphone. This figure is assumed to be her estranged father, and he tells Phoebe that he’s getting sober, and that he wrote her a letter. She does not believe this claim, however, because this is not her father. She wants to act like it didn’t bother her, but it ruins the rest of her trip. She tries to act as if she is normal and happy, but she is merely pretending. Again, we see this theme in track number 5, “Halloween”, with the chorus saying “You’ve been drinking, and you’re wearing a mask. Baby, it’s Halloween, and we can be anything” She wishes for it to be Halloween so she can put a mask on and become someone else.

This album is wonderful to listen to because of its unique musical arrangements and its lyrical meanings and prowess. Overall, I give “Punisher” a 8/10.