On Aug. 14, Phoebe Bridgers’ third album, “Lost Weekend,” was released.
“Lost Weekend” is an exploration of many aspects of Bridgers’ life -- including family, romantic relationships and fame — and the album provides fans with a much-needed update on Bridgers’ life since the release of her last album, “Punisher,” in 2020.
Additionally, the release of the album comes a few months after Bridgers announced an arena tour called “The Lost Tour.” Prior to that, Bridgers performed several surprise, pop-up, same-day shows, building excitement both for a tour and the new album.
Bridgers kicks off “Lost Weekend” with “The Outside,” a track that takes on a more electronic sound than Bridgers’ typical indie folk feel. “The Outside” is a reflection on Bridgers’ ability to dissociate from traumatic moments, notably abuse at the hands of her recently-deceased father, creating complicated feelings for Bridgers after his passing.
Next is the album’s lead single, “Lost Boys.” Clearly inspired by “Peter Pan’s” lost boys, a group of young boys who are led by Peter Pan and never grow up to adulthood. That track appears to be commentary on a variety of men Bridgers interacted with throughout her life.
It is unclear exactly what men the song is about, but overall, “Lost Boys”* critiques adult men who are immature and, at times, violent. The track may also allude to a larger, generational problem of young men who grew up under toxic masculinity.
“Lost Weekend’s” third song is “Kill Me.” Though somewhat ambiguous, “Kill Me” addresses Bridgers’ emotions on the passing of time and meeting a new partner, comedian and musician Bo Burnham.
That is followed by “The Governor’s Waltz,” a song that delves into the ways her relationship with her ex-boyfriend (who she was allegedly engaged to), actor Paul Mescal, fizzled out. In contrast, the fifth track, “Bobby,” is a love song devoted to Burnham.
The album’s namesake, “Lost Weekend,” appears to further reflect on Bridgers’ and Mescal’s* relationship while also processing Bridgers’ grief for her father.
“Haunted” focuses on growing and healing, especially in the context of going on tour with her friends Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. However, it also expresses Bridgers’ qualms with fame, especially touring.
Mostly an ambient instrumental track, “Panorama” is about the metaphorical knocking of death on one’s door. Overall, the song acts as a sort of intermission in the album.
Following this instrumental break, “Still Standing” tackles Bridgers’ complicated relationship with her father. Though she is grateful for the role he played in her life, she acknowledges the domestic violence she and others in her family experienced at his hands. Those experiences cause Bridgers* to feel uncertain in the wake of her father’s death.
With backing vocals by Burnham, “Liberty Tree” continues to tell the story of Bridgers’ and Burnham’s relationship. Named after the Liberty Tree Mall* near Burnham’s childhood home, “Liberty Tree” is a declaration of Bridgers’ love for Burnham.
In a culmination of all the major concepts of “Lost Weekend,” “Never Going Back!”* simply repeats that Bridgers is never going back. That phrase could be applied to her father’s passing, her life in fame or her newfound relationship. The track ends with a voicemail from her father, in which he says Bridgers is busy being a rock star.
Next, “Other Plans” is something of an interlude, which describes the all-encompassing way love can unexpectedly arrive in one’s life. Bridgers said she wrote the song as a challenge to write a melody with only one note in it.
Using the same melody as “Graceland Too” from Bridgers’ previous album “Punisher,” “Lost Parade” is a short, fully instrumental song that allows listeners to process.
“I Can’t Wait” demonstrates both the nature of an all-consuming new love and the divide in personality that Bridgers feels, noted by a reference to Jekyll and Hyde. Following that, “As Above” recounts thoughts that Bridgers had while on an airplane on how the past, present and future are all “on top of each other.”
Finally, “Lost Weekend” concludes with “Lost Weekend (Reprise),” which returns to the grief-related theme of “Lost Weekend,” but with a more peaceful, resolved outlook.
Overall, “Lost Weekend” continues Bridgers’ past success with writing extremely thought-provoking albums. “Lost Weekend” takes on a slightly different sound than past albums, with a more electronic feel that creates intrigue for what is in store for Bridgers’ future music. Her deep sense of individuality and very personal songwriting is what makes her music stand out, and “Lost Weekend” is no exception.
Fans can look forward to “The Lost Tour” beginning on Sept. 14.
