Whether it’s selling out venues or starring in major TV shows like “Daisy Jones and the Six,” Suki Waterhouse has done it all.
Her particular brand of indie pop has solidified her as an artist to keep an eye on, and her new album, “Memoir of a Sparklemuffin,” proves why. Through a whopping 18-song tracklist, Waterhouse continues to carve out her own space in the indie/dream-pop genre, penning masterful lyrics along the way.
Named after the jumping Australian Peacock Spider, Waterhouse’s album’s ridiculous title is a metaphor for herself. She fully jumps into the colorful, off-center world created with these songs, pulling no punches in this sparkling sophomore album. The album cover only adds to the ambiance of this world, depicting Waterhouse perched in a white beaded dress below the album name shimmering in the evening sky.
The album opens with “Gateway Drug,” a powerful track complete with rock undertones and strong drumbeats. Waterhouse’s angelic vocals call out to an unknown person, coaxing them back into love, begging to be their “gateway drug.”
Immediately after, Waterhouse transfers into an echoey self-care ballad called “Supersad.” Giving a huge middle finger to the world, she sings, “I look so much better when I don’t care!” This isn’t the only track where Waterhouse voices her frustration about caring too much. “Nonchalant” also dives into the world of a “quintessential cool girl” who couldn’t care less about those around her.
Many other songs on the album pertain to her positive love life, such as “Lullaby” and “To Love.” Waterhouse has been dating actor Robert Pattinson since 2018, and they welcomed their first child together in March. The couple’s happiness is evident in these songs, with the lyrics reading like a love letter to Pattinson and their daughter.
Even with a loving fiancé and a newborn, a few songs on this album will surely end up on “Female Rage” playlists. “OMG” and “Lawsuit” lead the pack, the former being a prime candidate for screaming in the car down the interstate. Waterhouse screams, “Take me back to the way that I was!” wishing for her life before she met her man.
“Lawsuit” is even gutsier. Waterhouse digs at a guy her friends have been gossiping about in a breezy, whimsical tone. She wishes this man luck with his lawsuit, an inevitable twist of fate rightly deserved.
My favorite song on the album is undoubtedly “Blackout Drunk.” The punchy tune chronicles the all-too-familiar tale of dealing with a drunken mess of a boyfriend. Waterhouse “can hardly wait to tell you all the shitty things that you’ve done” once her partner wakes up in the morning. The upbeat, energetic tempo juxtaposes the depressing lyrics wonderfully, creating a beautiful contrast within the song.
By the end, Waterhouse has led the listener down a winding path of her feelings, all backed with soft guitar strums and high hats. Akin to the sensation of going around one too many times on a carousel, the lengthy 18-track album may leave some feeling lost, but it ultimately ties up nicely.
Regardless of anyone’s opinion on this genre of music or the length of the album, one thing is certain: Suki Waterhouse has made her mark in the music industry and is here to stay.