Sad girl autumn is here, and who does melancholy better than Phoebe Bridgers? I’ve always appreciated her songwriting, especially in her second studio album Punisher. Released in 2020, Punisher is a beautifully-crafted, angsty indie folk album consisting of 11 tracks that explore themes of personal growth, depression, loss, and grief. Phoebe uses vivid imagery in her storytelling to convey a sense of melancholy and introspection during the pandemic and how it feels like it is the end of the world. From beginning to end, the album weaves together and turns into a fully developed story of someone who realizes that life is finite and yet worth chasing at the same time, hence the ending track being named “I Know The End.” 

After from the instrumental opener titled “DVD Menu,” the album’s lead single “Garden Song” sets an introspective tone and intertwines themes of nostalgia and hope. In this song, Bridgers references Elliott Smith’s From A Basement On The Hill, which serves as her muse, saying in her own way that perhaps when she dies, she’ll go there too. This song seems to exist in some sort of liminal space, and her intentions and memories get a bit hazy as she sings about maturing into a different version of herself. Precious time is passing by, and there is no other way to go but forward, no matter how hard it is to let go of the past.

The following track “Kyoto” is a bit more upbeat, with Bridgers talking about exploring the world and getting away from the life that she has been living. However, this is in no way a happy song (it’s Phoebe Bridgers…what do you expect?). She realizes that she cannot escape herself: all the feelings that she harbors will not disappear no matter how far away she tries to run. Bridgers worries that she is a punisher, which she defines as someone who is overly intense and emotionally demanding in a way that can become burdensome to others. This is where the title track comes into play: a track full of guilt and the struggle with self-judgment while also desperately desiring acceptance. She states that the word “punisher” sums up a lot of her personality, and rather than making the album self-titled, she decided to use a descriptive word. 

Skipping over to “Chinese Satellite,” a metaphor is used to convey feelings of desiring a connection and being adrift as you continue to search for meaning in life. It is a very beautiful song that I really appreciate, and it is followed by one of my personal faves from the record: “Moon Song.” The way the song captures the tenderness of loving someone amidst loneliness and personal turmoil just shows how well Bridgers can use songwriting to connect to her listeners. Continuing with the idea of loving someone who’s not in the right headspace, “Savior Complex” confronts the complexities of wanting to help others as a way to find a sense of purpose and to feel useful. 

I feel like I should stop rambling, but I can’t finish this analysis without talking about the final track “I Know The End.” Having written my college essay based on this song, I can vouch that everyone should listen to it at least once in their life. The song perfectly wraps up the album, carrying a sense of acceptance of the apocalypse, the end of the world. Now obviously, the world isn’t actually ending, but a lot of times it may feel like it is, which evokes feelings of anxiety and despair over change, and the climax mirrors that perfectly. The ending includes loud screams and overwhelming melodies that give the listeners a way to release pent-up emotions and feel the unpredictability of life, making it a powerful conclusion to a beautifully constructed album. 

My Rating:

1: I Know The End

2: Moon Song

3: Chinese Satellite 

4: Punisher

5: Savior Complex 

6: Garden Song 

7: ICU

8: Kyoto

9: Halloween 

10: Graceland Too

11: DVD Menu