Bloom Album Review

Bloom by Troye Sivan

Bloom by Troye Sivan

Story by Zoe Wexler, Staff Writer

Troye Sivan, Australian pop singer, came out with his sophomore album entitled Bloom on August 31, 2018, and charted No. 4 in the Billboard top 200. This album, full of synthesizers and dance-pop melodies, strayed from the usual indie-pop sound that Sivan is known for in his debut album, Blue Neighbourhood. Featuring artists such as Ariana Grande and Gordi, the album reflects the artistic development of the Youtuber-turned-pop star.

It is no secret that Sivan turns to visuals often throughout his songwriting process. In an interview with Pandora, the artist discussed that his vision for the album was inspired by vintage movie posters. This inspiration is clearly shown in tracks such as “Animal,” the fifth single of the album. The track resembles an 80s love ballad, and discusses how love can act as an instinct.

The first single of the album, “My My My!” takes a different turn. The use of synthesizers and strobe light visuals give the song a much more electric and dance-pop feel.

“It’s very upbeat and you can really dance to that song,” said sophomore, Avah Reed, a long time Troye Sivan fan.

The album also includes tracks such as “The Good Side,” which is a song in which Sivan thanks an ex-lover for all that he was taught throughout the relationship, and apologizes for getting the easy side of the break up. This song especially sticks out because of its acoustic sound that provides a good contrast to the rest of the electronic back trackings.

Troye Sivan’s new work greatly contrasts with his older works.. The most noticeable   shift, though, is in the mood of the album as a whole. The entire Blue Neighbourhood album had a very calming tone, with its soft blue album cover and instrumentals composed of primarily keyboards. The music relied mostly on Sivan’s voice, and had simple, bedroom pop beats. The same cannot be said about Bloom, as the album is full of synthetic instruments and relies more heavily on harmonies and the complex back tracks. It radiates energy and is far more danceable than the first, more mellow album. Even the color scheme is drastically different, as Bloom is full of neon greens, blues, and reds, and “Blue Neighbourhood” sticks to pastel blues and pinks.

Although the album may seem to have no similarities to Sivan’s debut album, a hint of his old style can be found in the track, “What a Heavenly Way to Die.” The title of this song references “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths, and features instrumentals similar to those found in Blue Neighbourhood. The message of the track has a very nostalgic feel, and describes Sivan recalling a memory of him and lover. This song is the epitome of innocent love and tugs at the heartstrings of Sivan’s listeners.

While Bloom has a very different sound from Troye Sivan’s old, softer sound, the album brings a fresh new sound to modern-day pop. The album has earned Sivan his highest-charting work so far, and has received overwhelming positive feedback. Fans of Sivan, old and new, adore Bloom and this new era of Troye, and are eagerly awaiting for what the artist will do next.

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