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Toxic relationships, drug addiction and chaos envelop English singer Lola Young\u2019s latest album, \u201c<\/span>I\u2019m Only F**king Myself.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a> The pop-rock album, released Sept. 19, is punchy and reflective, with Young\u2019s lyricism taking a front seat.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The album is the older sister to \u201c<\/span>This Wasn\u2019t Meant for You Anyway<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u201dthe 2024 album including Young\u2019s hit song, \u201cMessy.\u201d The song quickly went viral due to its refreshingly honest lyrics, with Young singing, \u201cAnd I\u2019m too perfect \u2018til I open my big mouth\/ I want to be me, is that not allowed?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI\u2019m Only F**king Myself\u201d exudes this same sentiment. From the lyrics to the album cover, which depicts Young holding a pink blow-up doll of herself, the record is brash and candid.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The album starts out strong with\u00a0 \u201c<\/span>F**K EVERYONE,<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>One Thing,<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d two sexually explicit, catchy tracks. Young is honest about her sexuality in \u201cOne Thing,\u201d singing, \u201cDon\u2019t care if you got another\/ \u2018cause tonight I\u2019m your only lover\/ And I\u2019ma give you that one thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The next song, \u201c<\/span>d\u00a3aler<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u201d is a sharp contrast to the previous tracks. It focuses more on Young expressing her struggles with sobriety and her desire to pack her bags and disappear. Despite the upbeat pop beat, the lyrics are gloomy. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Following this is \u201c<\/span>SPIDERS<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u201d which begins as a slow ballad and crescendos into a clashing, angry chorus depicting a fight with a romantic partner. Young\u2019s frustration is tangible in her strained vocals, adding more depth to the lyrics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In \u201c<\/span>Penny Out of Nothing<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u201d Young admits that she will \u201cmake a fool out of a man.\u201d She sings, \u201cDon\u2019t you dare walk away\/ I\u2019m not done lying to your face.\u201d While the chorus is catchy, the track did not stand out to me amidst stronger songs on the album.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Formed through Bloomington Delta Music Club, the band is comprised of six IU students. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201c<\/span>Walk All Over You<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d is one of the aforementioned stronger songs of this album. The track seems like a mix of Young\u2019s \u201cMessy\u201d and \u201c<\/span>Manchild<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d by Sabrina Carpenter, which expresses the pop artist’s frustration at incompetent men. In \u201cWalk All Over You,\u201d Young asserts that she won\u2019t take disrespect from anyone, especially not the man that she is with. She sings, \u201cJust \u2018cause you\u2019re a man don\u2019t mean you can sit there\/ and treat me like shit on your shoes\/ \u2018cause do me wrong, I\u2019ll put \u2018em on and I\u2019ll walk all over you,\u201d which is one of my favorite lyrics from the entire project.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Formed through Bloomington Delta Music Club, the band is comprised of six IU students.<\/p>\n Young continues to switch the atmosphere with \u201c<\/span>Post Sex Clarity,<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d a sultry song with melodic vocals embedded in my head since hearing it. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Midway through the album are songs \u201c<\/span>SAD SOB STORY! \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u201d a rambling, venting track, and \u201c<\/span>CAN WE IGNORE IT? :(,<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201c which is more of an upbeat rock song. While these songs are good, the ranting style and abrasive vocals were a bit overwhelming. Compared to other songs on the album, these did not compare. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Young\u2019s vocals and lyrics really stand out on \u201c<\/span>why do i feel better when i hurt you?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a> While the music is smooth and groovy, the lyrics are piercing and introspective. Young sings soberly, \u201cUnless it\u2019s dark, I throw words like punches at you\/ I like the way they almost bruise,\u201d a somber admittance to her more toxic tendencies. With deeply honest lyrics and a calm, relaxing beat, the track is easily one of my favorites off the album. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201c<\/span>Not Like That Anymore<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>w<\/span>ho f**king cares?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a> are the last two songs on the album and while they contrast in sound, with \u201cNot Like That Anymore\u201d being eclectically upbeat and the latter being a stripped-back acoustic track, the lyrics are very similar. Young grapples with her drug addiction and insecurities, writing that it\u2019s hard to feel alive and questions what being happy even really means. The closing songs are deeply intimate and personal, showcasing Young\u2019s lyrical talents beautifully.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Switching between somber, melodic verses to heavy and upbeat rock choruses, Young kept me on my toes for the entirety of the album. \u201cI\u2019m Only F**king Myself\u201d was a rollercoaster to listen to, but I enjoyed every rise and fall.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n