Album Review: Forever Neverland

MØ’s sophomore album is best described by its fifth single: a “Blur” in both the best and worst meanings of the word. At its best, Forever Neverland is some of 2018’s best electro-pop, and at its worst, it’s frankly exhausting. While the good far out-weighs the bad, you can’t hope but wonder what a less saturated version of this album could have been.

Save a few exceptions, even some of the album’s better songs have far too much going on behind the lyrics. This is to the point where if you had removed the singing completely, you would still be overwhelmed by the instrumentals alone. At times this is fine, and the production quality and lyricism of tracks like “Beautiful Wreck” and “If it’s Over” make them absolute bops I’ll be playing all month long. On the other hand, “Red Wine” and “Way Down” aren’t necessarily bad songs, although there’s a 50% you’ll be motion sick the first time you hear them.

Beyond the sometimes questionable production, “Forever Neverland” follows in the footsteps of some other recent artists, such as Lorde and Troye Sivan, in that the songs are not only great to dance to, but also incredibly meaningful. “Trying to be Good” and “Purple Rain,” like most songs on the album, are not just vessels for catchy melodies, but also have significant messages. MØ is done with Hollywood, heartbroken and struggling to hold onto her youth as she turns 30. “Blur” has me crying in the club every time; most songs don’t make me say the same.

Final Verdict: Even if it isn’t breaking much new ground and can be a bit over-done at times, MØ’s Sophomore album is a damn good time that will make you feel AND dance to almost every track. Forever Neverland is a strong addition to the electro-pop genre, and that is high praise considering the intense competition it currently faces.

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