On her third solo effort, pop singer/songwriter
Bebe Rexha looks to the past for inspiration, turning her attention to the dancefloor with the good vibes of
Bebe. Self-titling the effort suggests that this is the most authentic representation of self that
Rexha has presented thus far, resulting in a noticeable improvement in quality and her most sonically cohesive and focused statement to date. Joining the pack of nostalgic, pandemic-era dance escapism attempted by contemporaries like
Miley Cyrus,
Rexha pulls off throwback fare -- '70s touches such as elastic funk, shimmering disco, and groovy rock -- quite well, creating an ideal setting for her soulful rasp and playfully defiant attitude. The auras of
Stevie Nicks and
Dolly Parton loom large over much of the set: both the familiar riff from the former's "Edge of Seventeen" and her work with
Fleetwood Mac inform a handful of highlights ("Blue Moon," "I Am," "Heart Wants What It Wants," "Call On Me"), while the latter country icon actually appears on the acoustic closer "Seasons." Additional guests include
Snoop Dogg on the irresistible disco jam "Satellite," an effervescent ode to pot that's packed with a popping bassline and sparkling
ABBA-esque strings, and
David Guetta on the multi-platinum, chart-topping EDM anthem "I'm Good (Blue)," the
Eiffel 65-interpolating smash that marks the pair's sixth collaboration together. Although the album is a change from the tougher, more hardened fare that fans might expect,
Bebe makes a stronger impression than its predecessors and has enough high points to further support
Rexha's position as a masterful pop songwriter capable of churning out the hits. With
Bebe, she comes another step closer to a fully realized vision that could pull her into her own true spotlight moment. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
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