The Rocker Mom Hasn't Lost Her Touch For Album #7

 
Beautiful Trauma (2017)

1. "Beautiful Trauma"

We open this long awaited album with this terrific title track that seems to find P!nk in a celebratory mood that finds her fascinated by the problematic, as well as chaotic frame work of her life and her lover. In one lyric she sings "You punched a hole in the wall/And I framed it/I wish I could feel things like you". Almost like P!nk is seeing the complexity of brutality and violence by being VERY empathetic. The production itself is a staggering portrait of excellent drums and melodic harmonies that almost make the song feel more upbeat than it should. It really sets the tone for the album's hopeful mood despite the despair of traumatic situations, events and experiences. Already, I'm intrigued by P!nk's continuous rebellious nature as a tool to persevere through her internal and external troubles. As she says, "My perfect rock bottom/My beautiful trauma". A great start to the album with this deep, reflective yet positively unapologetic title tune!

(A-)

2. "Revenge" (Featuring Eminem)

Oh, THIS SONG!!! Lol It has been recently confirmed as the second single off the album and has left fans, for the most part, disappointed. Which I can understand! Another collaboration between the arguably the Queen of Rock-Pop and the greatest living rapper of all time ends being....a rather whimsical tune about them getting revenge on their exs??? Add in the bizarre jazz production and the overt silliness of the whole song and there you go! I'd say it's def the weakest track on the album so far, but that's not saying much since we are only on track #2! I gotta admit though, it sounds like P!nk and Em had fun with this tune; hilariously harmonizing toward the end about getting revenge together like a bunch of demonic school kids singing about plotting the doom of their childhood crush who broke their hearts. It has a nice "bop" to it but it's nothing really special unfortunately. All I can say it's fascinatingly fun and curiously catchy for a song that could be mistaken for filler. Then again, P!nk and Eminem have always had an intentionally self-parody tone to their music so this shouldn't be much of a shock! lol 

(C-) 

3. "Whatever You Want"

Now this is what I'm talking about!! The album quickly recovers and gets back to the pop rock glory that is P!nk! This might be one of my favorite tracks on the album as it has a soothing production but it's the lyrical content that really makes the track excel. P!nk seems to be documenting through her singing of a relationship that is doomed...but she'd rather stick with it anyway until the end. It's a beautiful sentimental track that really showcases P!nk's softer side once again like she did on her previous albums. I really adore this one as it has the rocker edge with a sweet melodic touch to it that makes for an unconventional yet wonderfully produced song! An record highlight! :)

(A)

4. "What About Us"

In this powerful, political anthem that introduced us to the album's core themes and emotional structure, "What About Us", the first single released from the album is a symbolic song that sees P!nk rightfully enraged by the state of the country, hell, even the world as we know it. Just look at the leader of the free world and the enormous propaganda that has followed since his inauguration into the highest seat in office of the United States. In the end, P!nk is asking what about the promises that our world leaders swore to keep? What about the millions that are still suffering?? Don't we mean anything??? We certainly do and through a record that soars stunning through precise drumming instrumentation and a rave-eqse dancing beat, she asks these question through metaphorical truths that have unfortunately become a lie in the public eye! Hey! That rhymed! Why not one of the album's strongest track, it's a pretty stellar release and with a captivating video shows that P!nk isn't afraid to make bold statements about what's going wrong in our society today!

(B+) 

5. "But We Lost It"

"I wonder where love goes to die/Is it just some empty castle in the sky?" Be prepared to cry as this song rightfully earns the right to tug at your heartstrings as P!nk sings of a relationship that has run it's course and has left her feeling empty. What was "lost" is the meaning and value of what the relationship symbolizes as well as what it originally meant to both sides; love. There can't be a relationship without it and as P!nk sorrowfully exclaims "Bones break/But grow back stronger". It like she knows they must part ways to be a lot stronger for it and maybe....just maybe they will find it again! I LOVE the piano melody as singers like P!nk don't need much production to highlight the rich vigor of their voice. P!nk simply rides the production like the wise, rebellious young woman she is telling a story that needs to be heard and it's quite awesome! :)

(B+)

6. "Barbies"

WOW!!! This might be my favorite P!nk song....EVER!!! O_O Yes.....it's THAT good!!! It's the emotional heart of the album for me and is the sum of what makes this record stand out among her discography!! This song is just SOOOOO relatable and will always be!! Who doesn't look back and reflect on their innocence as a child and naivety of adulthood???Childhood, for the most part, represents simpler times and the joys of not having to stress about the enormous weight of responsibility as well as worries of being an adult. It's something we all must go through and can't change. It's both scary and saddening but something in life we can't escape and I simply adore the brilliance of the guitar riff alongside P!nk's agonizing vocals; expressing deep concern of maybe even what her own child will experience one day when she's an adult. 

(A+) 

7. "Where We Go"

Hmmm, "Where We Go" can be seen as a bit morbid, yet like the majority of the album, it sounds much more hopeful than what you'd expect. I like the almost party rock anthem of the track as P!nk sings with enthusiasm about the endless possibilities that death might take us. It's almost feels like a song about not the destination but about the type of journey you take. It doesn't matter how or when we die but the fact that we are free and librated. Either way, I love the song and it's a strong track off of the album. :)

(B+) 

8. "For Now"

I love the emotional resonance of "For Now"!! It almost feels like an answer to "But We Lost It". It seems P!nk is in a rekindling mood and it couldn't be more beautiful as well as vulnerable. It seems she wants to forget about the past for a moment just to embrace with her lover again and I think that is just so sweet. The song itself has an old timey rock feel that works for P!nk's deep seeded woes she expresses throughout the track and I just love how well sung the chorus is! Another one of my favorites from the album! 

(A)

9. "Secrets"

WOW!!! I wasn't expecting...THIS!! This almost has a mainstream pop feel to it that I absolutely love! The production is really well polished and the way P!nk delivers this is like she has no problem competing with her contemporary as she sings with an enriching tone in her voice against the bold, thunderous pop beat. I really like this kind of sound for her. Sure, P!nk is more of a rocker than a pop act, but sometimes some needed experimentation like this with other genres are need. I like the melodic arrangements of the song and you can tell she probably had fun with this song. Definitely a pleasurable escape from typical P!ink!! :)

(A-)

10. "Better Life"

This song has a soulful R&B feel to it with it's synthesized harmonies against P!nk's lead vocals. I really enjoy the uplifting feeling of the whole song as P!nk examines her own life and compares it to the lives of other people aka celebrities like herself of course. I like how we finally get a mention of her daughter as she sings  "I've been all night looking in the eyes of my baby/Right in front of me, what a gift so amazing/And that's what's true". The song seems to be directed at her husband and I find it hilarious yet satisfying her calling him out on what could be and telling him ultimately to accept what is! A solid track all around!

(A-)

11. "I Am Here"

Another superb track as P!nk once again takes the soulful route with some sensational religious productions thrown in along some beautiful instrumentation. I love the uplifting spirit of the track as it feels like P!nk is leading a choir on a road to spiritual conviction as it doesn't matter where they go but that she is here. It almost feels like P!nk has been through so much that she has become fearless if the end is near as she even sings that "Know that I'll be ready when the devil is near'. It's ultimately an inspiring song that really is  joy to listen to and P!nk really sings her heart out! 

(A)

12. "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"

In this brutal, vividly written ballad, P!nk sings about her inner strength through violent images such as "There's not enough rope to tie me down/There's not enough tape to shut this mouth/The stones you throw can make me bleed/But I won't stop until we're freeWild hearts can't be broken/No, wild hearts can't be broken." It shows once again how P!nk can persevere through nearly anything and the tough girl in her will always be present. Production wise, it's a stunning, if not a bit short, piano ballad that more than leaves an impression of listeners for sure! :)

(A-)

13. "You Get My Love"

Concluding this journey of an album is this powerful, gut wrenching ballad that sees P!nk singing her heart out in a way I have never heard her before and once again, I'm blown away!! O_O The lyrics are wonderfully written and P!nk gives one of the most raw, riveting vocal performances of her career. My goodness, she BETTA. SANG!!! Many often forget just how soulful and piercing P!nk's voice can be and she really pushes for some spectacular notes!! What a beautiful conclusion to an album that I have had such an amazing time listening to.

(A+)

Well, it's been 5 years since P!nk's last album "The Truth About Love", that featured her stunning collaboration with F.U.N. front man, Nate Ruess, on "Just Give Me A Reason" and her resilient rock follow-up "Try". I have found memories of that era of her career and while the album garnered her lukewarm reviews from critics, I enjoyed the album as I do with most of P!nk's albums. "Beautiful Trauma", her latest and seventh studio album, has her pretty going on a personal and political mission this time around. From politically, inquisitive of "What About Us"  to the triumphant tales of achieving inner solitude in "I Am Here", "Beautiful Trauma" soars amongst P!nk's best records so far. Her vocals are as strong as ever and her artistry has not suffered in the slightest since her last LP. I feel like there has been A LOT of grown since P!nk's last album as marriage and motherhood has been very good to her but it's nice to see she hasn't lost her inner bad girl. The album so far has done well in terms of streaming sites and apps; being #1 on Itunes in over 30 countries in terms of sales and selling enough to dethrone Ed Sheeron from the top spot. Which isn't surprising!! P!nk has always been an incredible artist who has never gotten her just do of major success. She's had number #1s, sold out tours across the country as well as in other countries but when it comes to recognizing her as a credible artist, she deserves much more rewards and accolades. But I'm just glad that after 7 albums, she hasn't lost her sweet yet edgy touch to her music. She truly is something special and a voice in music that deserves WAAAAAYY more attention!! :) While the album isn't perfect, seriously "Revenge" feels so out of place compared to the rest of the album! O_o It's another work in her discography that she should be proud of!

"After a 5 year hiatus, P!nk returns with her stellar seventh studio entry in her almost 20 year career with a record that tackles current issues as well as shows the singer at her best vocally, lyrically and spiritually; reaching new hits musically that will leave her fanbase more than satisfied as well as hopefully garner her a new generation of reflective rockers with a soft side."

(A-)