Last Friday, San Marcos-native collective BROCKHAMPTON released its RCA debut, “Iridescence,” following its “SATURATION” trilogy, three albums that were all released within the course of a year, each track and album getting better than the last. “Iridescence” is a beautiful work that explores an array of subjects such as mental health, scandal and homosexuality.
“WEIGHT” is a track that goes into not only the weight that we carry on our shoulders as individuals, but also the burdens and worries we carry for and of others. Kevin Abstract first addresses his distance through fame and detachment from family and then goes into his worries for the band’s photographer, Ashlan Grey. “’Cause I’m still worried ‘bout when Ashlan finna put the razor down / So I don’t really give a f*** about what story they done spun,” he said. Controversy had risen in the band, and it is most apparent that Abstract’s main priority is the mental health and well-being of his collective’s members. Abstract also goes into the struggles of his sexuality and the difficulties he faces before realizing the reasons for his failed love endeavors. “And she was mad ‘cause I never wanna show her off (scared) / And every time she took her bra off my d*** would get soft” are lyrics that open up more about his sexuality.
In a solo track, “Miserable America,” Abstract has been able to be more open and proud of his sexuality. In Joba’s verse, he eludes to some tendencies of using drugs to suppress his depression: “Pressure makes me lash back, wish I could get past that / I can’t take a step back, makes me wish you’d pass that.” It also juggles the weight of choosing between his own mental health and a possible addiction, regardless of the substance. “WEIGHT” gives insight on each of the members’ inner demons since becoming famous, whether it be self-harm, alcohol, drugs or pressure, and gives glimpses into their struggles with fame that is also touched further on in “TONYA.”
“SAN MARCOS,” one of the most relaxing songs of the album, references the group’s beginnings in San Marcos, Texas. With soothing guitar strums and strings, the song is about how the members wish to leave their past in San Marcos and have a new start. Abstract posted to Twitter: “San Marcos the perfect back to school song, goin’ to a football game by yaself type song and it’s raining yea.” The melancholy yet reflective song comes full circle with the London Community Gospel Choir singing an outro of, “I want more out of life than this / I want more, I want more.”
The second-to-last song, “TONYA,” clearly references the 2017 film starring Margot Robbie (“I, Tonya”). In the film, figure skater Tonya Harding is at an all-time high in her career until everything crumbles in 1994, when her ex-husband conspires to injure another competitor. Considered one of the worst scandals in sports history, Abstract mentions the film in wake of BROCKHAMPTON’S own scandal when ex-member Ameer Vann was removed from the group over sexual misconduct scandals. “My ghost still haunt you, my life is I, Tonya / A big-eyed monster, only face to conquer.”
BROCKHAMPTON’S 15-track album is a wonderfully executed work and possibly one of its best albums yet. With such a complex and contrasting tracklist, there is no need to shuffle or even change the song when it comes to “Iridescence,” as it has everything one could need for an introspective listening.
Image from BROCKHAMPTON via YouTube.com
