Album Review: This Is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadoobee
Co-produced by the renowned Rick Rubin, Bea Kristi’s third studio album employs an unplugged sound to craft a genuine reflection of the early stages of adulthood.
Beabadoobee’s discography offers a nostalgic tour through the sounds that defined pop radio in the early 2000s. Her 2020 debut, Fake It Flowers, channeled the untamed spirit of Alanis Morissette, while 2022’s Beatopia ventured further into the glittery, Disney-esque territory, complete with references to Tinkerbell. On her newly released third album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, co-produced by the enigmatic Rick Rubin, Kristi adopts a more restrained, acoustic approach reminiscent of Suzanne Vega’s coffee shop aesthetic. The folk-pop experiments on this album often surpass its inherent sweetness, marking a notable development in her artistic journey.
From the vantage point of her 2017 guitar-driven debut single “Coffee,” it’s evident how much personal growth and artistic evolution have occurred. Now, on the sun-drenched shores of Malibu, a world away from her London comfort zone, she exudes increased joy and self-assurance. In this picturesque setting, she collaborated with acclaimed alternative rock maestro Rick Rubin on her latest album, a long-held aspiration finally realized. While Beatopia, her stunning second release, explored the imaginary domain of her childhood through experimental soundscapes, This Is How Tomorrow Moves marks a return to her earliest musical roots—a venture to examine the past through a more expansive lens. Though she has ventured far from her origins, geographically and creatively, introspection remains her most potent muse.
At 24, Kristi has accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime, from experimenting with psychedelics to touring with Taylor Swift. With an expanded perspective and thriving career, she utilizes This Is How Tomorrow Moves to illustrate the compelling potential of minimalism. The album’s understated moments shine the brightest, with “California” and “Post” introducing stark, clattering drum loops evocative of Tori Amos’ twisted roots in “Space Dog.” Meanwhile, the hushed, Lisa Loeb-esque guitar on “Everything I Want” distills a universal romance into something more potent. These introspective interludes infuse the album with a sense of shadow-puppet drama—a touch of darkness and friction. Kristi seems to have outgrown the innocent, suction-cup kisses of a Rachael Leigh Cook rom-com, now armed with the clarity of retrospection.
However, there are instances where This Is How Tomorrow Moves smothers its introspective moments in excessive sweetness, a tendency Kristi and her Beatopia collaborator Jacob Bugden (here serving as Rubin’s co-producer) have demonstrated on previous albums. When Kristi sings about body image concerns in “Girl Song,” the sentiment is paired with an overly sentimental piano. Similarly, when she acknowledges a propensity for self-infantilization in “Tie My Shoes,” cheerful horns accompany the revelation. These flowery embellishments harken back to the tail-wagging love songs that initially propelled Beabadoobee to YouTube fame years ago. Amidst the self-assured tranquility of the rest of This Is How Tomorrow Moves, they feel like a regressive retreat to the safety of a pacifier.
For the most part, though, Kristi spits out the pacifier. On the pleasantly meandering “This Is How It Went,” she ardently defends her diaristic songwriting approach. While this twinkling waltz isn’t immune to oversimplification (she name-drops Elliott Smith for penning songs “about situations”), its narrative encapsulates the defiant self-assurance that renders much of This Is How Tomorrow Moves an authentic depiction of early adulthood. Between self-awareness and pride lies ample room for growth—a space Beabadoobee fearlessly occupies on this album.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Tie My Shoes,” “Post,” “This Is How It Went”