Album review: “MAGDALENE” by FKA Twigs

The days grow colder and the impending gloom of winter is upon us. 

I used to love winter, but as I grew up it became the time of the year that made me want to rip my head off. In order to keep my head on my shoulders, I find comfort in one of my all-time favorite albums: “MAGDALENE” by FKA Twigs. 

“MAGDALENE,” released on November 8, 2019, is an electronic art-pop album and, in my opinion, one of FKA Twig’s best. It’s not just a heartbreak album. It’s healing in such a powerful and comforting way. 

I have never gone through a breakup (I know, lucky me), but I still enjoy listening and allowing myself to feel the cathartic rebirth and transformation Twigs expresses in the album. She manages to deliver raw emotions on a silver platter for me to enjoy even though I’ve never experienced heartbreak, and boy do I love it. 

The album flows seamlessly through each track, but each song is still unique. The beats are expressive; harsh and formidable one second, and soft, melancholic and soothing the next. Her vocals are angelic and hauntingly beautiful.

I like all nine of the songs in the album, but if I had to rank them, “fallen alien” would have to take first place. It’s the first song I heard from Twigs, and I have never heard a song like it. It sounds just like its name: a fallen alien.

 It’s got a build-up that literally gave me chills the first listen. Oh, how I wish I could listen to this song for the first time again, on the way to school in the cold, dark morning. Twigs sounds like an angel, betrayed and resentful. I definitely recommend it if you enjoy experimental beats with a good vocal delivery. 

I think the most popular song from the album is “cellophane,” the viral song that goes, “And didn’t I do it for you?” 

Other songs from the album I especially enjoy include “mirrored heart,” “mary magdalene,” “thousand eyes,” “daybed,” “home with you,” and, of course, “cellophane.”