If you like your pop punk music on the softer side, with a heavy dose of introspection and a dash of existentialism, Beach Bunny is the band for you. Critics have described Beach Bunny’s music as having elements of everything from garage rock to cotton candy pop. Their unique sound that combines soaring melodies and upbeat instrumentals with the occasional synthesizer is solidified on their third studio album. Clocking in at 10 songs with a runtime of just under 30 minutes, Tunnel Vision is short and sweet but packs a powerful punch. Beach Bunny has always excelled at blending incredibly catchy music with devastating lyrics that speak to the challenges of being an emotional creature on this planet. Their latest release is certainly no exception. 

While each of these songs is strong on their own, and would all sound fantastic on a playlist rotation, the album as a whole is very cohesive. It’s also well-produced, the mix flawlessly balancing guitars, drums, and vocals in a way that makes each element shine without overpowering the others. I would expect nothing less from producer Sean O’Keefe, who also produced Fall Out Boy’s breakout record Take This To Your Grave.

Tunnel Vision kicks off with the light and airy “Mr. Predictable” that sounds straight out of a romantic comedy montage, but its lyrics reveal something darker — the kind of crushing self-doubt that makes you question everything you’ve ever done and ever will do. In an Instagram post from earlier this year, frontwoman and lyricist Lili Trifilio said she wrote “Big Pink Bubble,” the second track on the album, “about having trust issues, being a chronic people pleaser, [and] thinking I can control things by making myself small.” The album builds from the indie pop vibe of these opening tracks to songs that are slightly faster and more aggressive on the second half. For example, “Pixie Cut” is an infectious pop punk anthem where the drumming prowess of Jon Alvarado is on full display.

Lili‘s strength is searing self-reflection, critiquing herself and her relationships ruthlessly in a way that is so specific it can’t help but be universal. On Tunnel Vision, Lili turns her powers of observation outward towards society — resulting in some of the most political songs in the band’s discography. Two tracks on the album, “Violence” and “Just Around The Corner”, stand out in this regard. “Violence” in particular is a song that sticks with you. Its fast pace evokes the feeling of overwhelm when witnessing the inescapable horrors of modern life, as Lili sings them in rapid succession: “Mass extinction, flashes glowing / Microplastics in our clothing / Waterways are slowly going / Everything is decomposing.” Ultimately, the song is about the intensely difficult parts of being a human in American society today. If there’s an overall lesson in Beach Bunny’s Tunnel Vision, I think it’s that allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and bear witness to the messy, painful parts of the human experience is what allows us to move forward, and maybe even to change. I’m grateful to them for setting an example for the rest of us that is also delightful to listen to.

Follow Beach Bunny on Instagram for updates from the band, and pre-order Tunnel Vision on CD and cassette on their website.

Further Listening (if you like this album, I think you’ll also enjoy these):

• After Laughter by Paramore
• UTOPIA NOW! by Rosie Tucker
• Super Pedestrian by Annie DiRusso