Arlo Parks: Collapsed in Sunbeams Album Review
British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks’ debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams” feels like a breath of fresh air after being suffocated. In the oversaturated genre of indie-pop, Parks manages to sound fresh, current, and uplifting without sounding boring and overdone. Her lyrics are both melancholic and hopeful through the lens of storytelling and visual imagery. The opening line to the opening poem,“Collapsed in sunbeams, stretched out open to beauty however brief or violent”, encapsulates this album perfectly.
Every one of her songs tells a nuanced story. “Caroline”, for example, is a small exploration into the fight and aftermath of a couple that Parks witnessed at a bus stop. The lyrics “strawberry cheeks flushed defeated rage / then he spilled his coffee as he frantically explained” paint a vivid picture. You have no idea who these people are, or what they were fighting about, but Parks manages to invest you in the story; she makes the lyrics broad, yet specific enough to insert you into the situation.
“Black Dog” paints the picture of watching a loved one suffer from depression. The first line, “I’d lick the grief right off your lips”, made me tear up instantly. The helplessness of knowing you’re out of control while watching someone you love experience pain is perfectly captured. The lyrics of the end of the chorus (“I would do anything to get you out your room / It’s so cruel what your mind can do for no reason”) are some of the only ones on this album that don’t look towards a hopeful outcome, which makes them hit even harder. “Hope” almost feels like a counterpart to Black Dog. The verses detail the troubles of someone dealing with depression, but this time the chorus is from the perspective of Parks, who preaches “You’re not alone like you think you are”.
It’s important to note that Arlo Parks is an openly bisexual woman. “Green Eyes” (featuring Clairo) tells the story of a short lived relationship that ended because of internalized homophobia. “Of course I know why we lasted two months / could not hold my hand in public / felt their eyes judgin’ our love and beggin’ for blood / I could never blame you, darling.” “Eugene”, on the other hand, tells a story of unrequited love for a straight girl in a relationship with a boy named Eugene: the lyric “Hey, I know I’ve been a little bit off and that’s my mistake / I kind of fell half in love and you’re to blame” does a great job of encapsulating this story. However, the opening lyric is one of my favorites of hers; “I had a dream, we kissed and it was all amethyst” starts the song off perfectly and showcases Parks’ talent in visual imagery. This song would make anyone emotional, but queer people especially will find a connection with it. I cried while listening to this song and watching the video, because what Arlo is singing about is such a specifically queer experience; falling in love with a straight best friend and having a borderline romantic relationship with them is almost a queer right of passage. This song captures the longing, intimacy, and spite in that dynamic, and I felt it hard while listening to this song.
Parks’ songs play out like memories; she looks at specific details, makes connections to other senses, and forces you to assume the larger picture. This makes for an organic and memorable energy that surrounds all of her songs. Her presence is needed in indie-pop right now. After a year like 2020 that forced us to confront the harsh realities of life, “Collapsed in Sunbeams” acknowledges and explores pain and hardship while offering a cautiously hopeful outlook. Parks’ music and lyrics are soul soothing, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.