Qulture Magazine

Words: Zeinab Fakih

Violet Grohl sounds like a suburban kid who has never faced a trial, let alone a tribulation, trying to convince her parents that she’s troubled. So troubled that she wrote a whole song about biting her nails. Just to give her credit, I choose to believe that there’s a metaphor about self-sabotage and she isn’t being literal with “Chew my bitter fingers/ […]/Guide it on my hand/Fingers on my heels, I’ll leave them there” in “THUM” (like thumb…get it?).

Daughter of Foo Fighters founder and Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl, Violet Grohl recently released her debut album Be Sweet to Me that is basically an ode to being a femcel. The trouble is, “daughter of a successful alt/rock musician” seems to be all she has going for her. She is reminiscent of a teenage dirtbag archetype from a kids movie—think Rodrick Heffley has access to soundcloud. Disappointing because the titles of each song are actually fun and she has the resources to make a good album.

While artists wanting to aestheticize themselves and hold a distinct sound is understandable, there comes a point where distinctiveness turns into predictable and monotonous. When listeners need to follow the track titles they’re listening to because the songs are almost indiscernible from one another, we know the artist has leered into the dreadful latter.

Don’t misunderstand; the music composition is good (however, I think that praise is more for her music composers to which she is listed as an executive producer). Sonically, these are good songs that hold energetic, loud, heavy beats reminiscent of 90’s grunge/rock that is still well-listened to today. Major praise goes to the drummer, specifically. Reading the lyrics, however, it’s a lazy jumble of what looks like the results of a word generator app set to music. But, hey, if you don’t care for lyrics that are more complex than “I’ll be your 1-900 G-spot, baby” or “moving to grandma’s” [x5], then who am I to yuck your yum.

The most disappointing song off this album would probably be “Mobile Star” which sounds like a replica of Hayley Williams’ “True Believer” except with zero depth in the writing. It just sounds like someone trying to emulate Williams’ tone on a song that sounds like it’s about doomscrolling. With zero identity, Violet Grohl’s music only sparks remembrance of other artists. She’s a costume—dressed as a Lana Del Ray/Fiona Apple caricature set to music that tries hard to be her dads’. This is a passive album. The songs you play in the end credits as people exit the theatre, the chase scene, the opening song—they aren’t memorable enough to warrant a spotlight or replay.

Please Be Nice to Me is self conscious in a way that is almost comical considering the title. What works in the strong midpoint tracks like “The Last Day I Loved You” or “Big Memory” does little to redeem the whole feel of the album which is a sanitized image trying to fit the mold of those that came before her. Overall, instrumentals are strong, titles are enjoyable, lyrics weigh down the album.

The album tracklist is:

1. THUM
2. 595
3. Bug In The Cake
4. Last Day I Loved You
5. Big Memory
6. Mobile Stars
7. Often Others
8. Applefish
9. Cool Buzz
10. Pool Of My Dream
11. Plastic Couch

Photo Credit: Bella Newman