I may be eighteen years old and currently waiting for my
A-Level results but that doesn’t mean that I love Hilary Duff any less than I
did when I was eight and waiting for Lizzie McGuire to start on Disney Channel.
Whilst everyone else’s Hilary Duff phase was left in the mid
2000’s, my “phase” has continued right into my teenage years so although finding
out Hilary was releasing new music after being out of the music scene for the
best part of a decade was exciting, I can’t lie and say I wasn’t a little
nervous. I didn’t want to be disappointed by somebody that I have looked up to
for as long as I can remember.
The first tracks I heard from the album were Chasing the
Sun and All About You and although they are not available on the standard
edition of Breathe In. Breathe Out., they cast aside my doubts for the album.
Breathe In. Breathe Out. Is definitely easy listening but
there’s no doubt that this album has a more mature sound than Hilary’s older
music. The overall feel of the album is summery, feel good pop.
Although there isn’t a song on the album that I don't like, there are a few songs that standout to me and could potentially be singles.
Sparks
Sparks is no doubt one of the catchiest songs on the album.
The whistles that are repeated throughout the song paired with the upbeat tempo
make sure you’ll have the song stuck in your head all day.
My Kind
My Kind has such a summery vibe to it while listening to it,
I can’t help but picture a tropical beach. The lyrics are also fun and adventurous
as the song describes the feeling of meeting and getting to know somebody new.
Breathe In. Breathe Out.
As one of the slower songs on the album, it’s no less catchy
than the rest of the album. I lyrically love this track as it can be considered
quite empowering. “Breathe In. Breathe Out.” is something the song reminds us
to do when things get too much. As Hilary’s target audience are prominently in
their teens, I think that it is an important message to remember.
Tattoo
I found out from Hilary’s Instagram that she would be
working with Ed Sheeran. When I first listened to Breathe In. Breathe Out I
could tell that this track was the one written by Ed Sheeran. It’s a refreshing
track on the album as many of the other songs are upbeat and catchy so you
often get lost in the melody rather appreciating the lyrics. Tattoo is a slower
song that allows you to really listen.
Night Like This
I’ll admit I was slightly prejudice towards Night Like This
before I listened to it. I knew that the song featured Kendall Schmidt from Big
Time Rush. I’m not a fan of Big Time Rush so I was prepared to dislike Night
Like This. However, this song is my favourite on the album. The lyrics tell a
story of two strangers who meet whilst sharing a taxi on a Friday night and the
song is full of adventure and optimism. Hilary’s’ and Kendall’s voices complement
each other beautifully too.
Overall, I don’t think Breathe In. Breathe Out will appeal
to an older audience. However, Hilary’s mature sound is perfect for teens who
are a fan of easy listening and upbeat pop.
You can buy Breathe In. Breathe Out on iTunes.
