The Beaches – No Hard Feelings (2025)

The Beaches – No Hard Feelings (2025)

I don’t know why it bothers me so much that I don’t give this album top marks! Maybe because The Beaches are one of my current favourite bands and I don’t love this album as much as I’d like to. It’s always hard to be disappointed by our heroes or heroines.

What’s more, it’s in the recommendations of the website where I still buy CDs! Yes, I was very close to buying it, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on it for free. I often buy albums that I love, even if I can listen to them without paying, but I don’t think that’s going to happen with this one.

No, I don’t! Advice? Really? That’s pretty typical! Generally speaking, I avoid giving advice. When the press talk about albums of maturity, for example, it’s often the first albums that aren’t incredible! Sure, there’s good production, it’s polished, it’s rebellious, but, at the same time, they’re starting to make a name for themselves.

There are a lot of bands who have made incredible, raw, authentic debut albums. When you’re hungry and you give everything to succeed, it’s different from when you still want to be rebellious, but you’re also starting to taste the pleasures of the bourgeoisie. The most legendary bands have managed to produce good work throughout their careers, but that’s not the case for most of them.

In fact, The Beaches have really moved away from the alternative and indie side that I love about these bands. Now I’m really feeling the easy pop-rock side. I love Rock, but that doesn’t mean I love everything. I don’t hate Pop, but that doesn’t mean I support everything. And here, we’ve reached this less interesting and less researched side. Even in the lyrics. Just because it’s daring, vulgar and frank doesn’t mean it’s good!

How aware of this is the team? In any case, the cover of the album shows the pretty bust of a woman in a bra. Through the white underwear, you can clearly see her left nipple (although Photoshoped out on some versions). And the album title is written right above it! Yes, it’s art. But it looks like it’s mainly to attract attention in case the music isn’t any good…

This image and the lyrics explain, without further ado, the “Explicit Cover / Content”, don’t they!

The song ‘Fine, Let’s Get Married’ is hilarious! I like songs like ‘Did I Say Too Much’ which have a certain catchy power. I also love ‘Takes One To Know One’, ‘Dirty Laundry’ and the finale with ‘Last Girls At The Party’ which makes you want to start the record all over again. But all in all, it’s not great and not an album that stands out from the crowd, that creates a new genre or that surfs on the best there is. Okay, that’s not a bad thing in itself, but our Canadians have accustomed us to better.

After that, it’s probably nice for running, taking the car, doing the housework, playing music in the background. I don’t think I’ll ever say to myself that it’s a stroke of genius or an essential record. I’ve already listened to it a lot, hoping that it would grow on me… but I’m pretty bored with it already! For the moment, anyway.

‘Touch Myself’ has nothing to do with the famous song by the Australian band Divinyls. It’s not a cover version. For that, you’ll have to check out the Dollyrots, who have never lost any of their fiery spirit!