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
,
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,
makes a stronger impression than its predecessors and has enough high points to further support
's position as a masterful pop songwriter capable of churning out the hits. With
, she comes another step closer to a fully realized vision that could pull her into her own true spotlight moment. ~ Neil Z. Yeung