PVRIS: Use Me Album Review
Nearly six years after their mainstream debut and three years after their sophomore album release, PVRIS has seemingly found themselves a new play toy. Use Me dives much deeper into the realm of chorus heavy synth pop than its more rock, alternative inspired predecessors. Old school PVRIS fans need not worry, though. Lynn Gunn is not about to let sleeping dogs lie as she proclaims, “They say don’t open old wounds, but I’m going to,” on the album’s seventh track Old Wounds. Much of this album, if not the entirety of it, catalogues the personal journey Gunn underwent following the release of All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell. Gimme a Minute opens the album with a structure reminiscent to that of Billie Eilish’s Bury a Friend. We all have some callused skin to shed, some memories we dread, and some people best left in the past. After the listener is able to collect themselves with Gimme a Minute, the upbeat track and lead single Dead Weight comes in. Stay Gold and Good to Be Alive follows up with a brighter yet more ironic outlook on the hardships life throws at one who has been in the music industry since their late teens/early twenties (although the storylines are still relatable to anyone and everyone). “It feels good to be alive, but I hate my life,” Gunn sings as she speaks of health issues she has faced within the past year. The next three tracks of Use Me have all been seen before on PVRIS’ EP Hallucinations which dropped in October 2019. Death of Me and Old Wounds speak of the addictive substance that is love. No matter how much devoting yourself to someone, especially someone you have already had history with, may hurt we find ourselves falling into the same cycler pattern. Fall in love. Breakup. Fall miserably. Repeat. Gunn describes this as the “all or nothing” mentality she develops in both short and long term relationships that lend her to be hurt on more than one occasion by the same person. “They say don’t open old wounds, but this is still brand new; And I’ve got nothing left to lose besides you; I’ve already lost you once what more could I do,” is arguably the deepest cut on the album. To be specific, she writes of a breakup that took a toll on both her physical and mental health in the following tracks Loveless and January Rain. These two offer a retrospective chance at self reflection in regards to one of the most painful things one can experience. There is something all too satisfying about coming clean with the hurt as Lynn Gunn does here. An immense blend of power, freedom, and closure is felt by the listener and can be applicable to any hardship as a result of a relationship. The album's title track comes in at number ten on the track list and has the album's only feature artist on it. 070 Shake takes the second verse by storm in this ironically obsession driven love song. Hints of sarcasm backed by genuine thought play well in not only the song Use Me but the album as a whole. As if this eleven song emotional rollercoaster wasn’t enough, Lynn Gunn is keen to end on a sincere note. A song of gratitude and peace ends Use Me. Wish You Well bids ado to the person on the other side of the album’s romantic turmoil with both hints of sadness and serenity. All in all, Use Me says what Paramore’s After Laughter album hides behind upbeat, 80’s pop grooves. It is refreshing to have a band discover themselves and their sound in just three albums. Use Me is the epitome of the sonic embodiment of what PVRIS has worked to make a reality since 2014. Use Me is available now on all major streaming platforms.
Written by Dannon Johnson
