Crafting a release that improves on her nearly-universally acclaimed first two albums was likely no easy task, but Billie Eilish’s “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” does so effortlessly. The album’s sound meshes the more uptempo art-pop of her debut “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO” and the sparse, relaxed arrangements of her previous album, “Happier Than Ever,” sometimes even during the same song. 

One of the things that grabbed me upon my first listen was how short the album was. There are only 10 songs, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. In an age of music where albums are often over an hour, the 44-minute runtime means the album is concise and no song overstays its welcome. And even though there’s only ten songs, the variety of musical styles flesh out the comparatively short runtime. 

The instrumental aspects of Eilish’s music have always been just as important to the song as her lyrics. Other pop albums might focus more on the singer, but the instrumentals here, written with her brother and producer FINNEAS, grab the listener with some catchy hooks and a sound that often alternates between a softer fingerpicked guitar and upbeat synth-pop. “THE DINER” hooks listeners with a guitar drenched in vibrato that plays the same two-note riff throughout the song, hypnotizing us and pulling us into the world of the stalker character at the center of the song. “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE” keeps with a slow, jazzy guitar riff for most of the song before abruptly transitioning to an upbeat synth-pop takedown of an ex. For those who want more of the synth-pop style, Eilish released an extended version of that half of the song as a single. 

Vocally, Eilish is the strongest she’s ever been. She’s supplanted the whispery vocals of previous albums with a strong and clear voice, making the moments when she shifts to a softer voice that much more impactful. During “THE GREATEST,” the song starts with a simple muted guitar and the classic whispery vocals for multiple verses and choruses before a soaring high note from Eilish releases the song into an explosion of instruments. 

Her lyrics here are subtle, more “Happier Than Ever” than “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO.” The opener “SKINNY” is nakedly confessional, confronting body-image issues with lyrics like “People say I look happy/Just because I got skinny/But the old me is still me/And maybe the real me/And I think she’s pretty.” On the opposite side of the spectrum, “LUNCH” is an upbeat, joyful bop from post-coming out Eilish about a hookup with a girl as she embraces her newfound sexuality. And for those who are fans of her darker music, ala “bury a friend,” “THE DINER” takes the perspective of a stalker who sings “I memorized your number, now I call you when I please/I tried to end it all, but now/I’m back up on my feet/I saw you in the car with someone else and couldn’t sleep/If something happens to him, you can bet that it was me.” 

The album is an encapsulation of Eilish’s career so far, and those who enjoy pop that’s a little offbeat will certainly enjoy this album. 

“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is out now on all streaming platforms.