On April 5, 2024, singer/songwriter Benson Boone released his debut studio album “Fireworks & Rollerblades” on a multitude of music streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora. Described as “intimate pop,” the songs on this album transport listeners to the various dimensions of love, and the excitement as well as the heartbreak that can come with it. To learn more about the album, here is an in-depth review of each of the tracks it contains.
“Intro”
Beginning with a calm piano tune, this track encapsulates the experience of being in love through the repetition of the phrase, “Do you believe there is a life where it’s just you and me and I?” Boone’s use of anaphora emphasizes the desire for forming and maintaining a loving relationship, which sets up the album’s ambiance. I would have liked this track to be longer since it has a melodious tune, but despite its short length, it gives listeners a sense of what mood to feel when listening to the album.
Rating: 9.5/10
With a drum and bass guitar background beat, this upbeat track is about a person wanting to “be someone” who’s reliable for the person they are interested in. Moreover, this track includes lines from the album’s first track “Intro,” which enhances listeners’ feelings of excitement when they are in love with someone and seamlessly ties this track to its previous one. I could see this track becoming a summer anthem because of the happy and positive mood that emanates from the song’s instrumentation.
Rating: 10/10
In contrast to the previous track, which talks about the positives of being in love, this track takes listeners on a tumultuous journey about the doubts of being in a relationship. It discusses the anxiousness and nervousness that comes when thinking about maintaining a relationship in the future. I like how the song had a nice piano tune in the background near the beginning, but I didn’t like the drums in the background near the middle and end of the track because I didn’t think it suited the track’s mood.
Rating: 9/10
This track does a great job of portraying the desperation people feel when they want to maintain a romantic relationship with someone through the background music. It starts with a soft guitar melody, but near the chorus, the guitar gets louder and there are drums in the background as well. Additionally, this song is a platinum hit, being on the Billboard Global 200 chart for five weeks and reaching the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Rating: 10/10
“Cry”
Starting with a slow tempo but quickly switching to a faster tempo, this track is about the anger and disappointment someone feels after a breakup. I loved the tempo change and the idea behind the song, but I felt like there could have been more rhythm variations near the end of the song.
Rating: 9/10
The lyrics in this track are based on the saying “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life” and the infinite love a person can have for another. I like how the tempo is neither too slow nor too fast, and it sums up the feeling of loving someone immensely.
Rating: 8/10
This track expresses the internal thoughts someone has when they are mourning the death of someone they love through a slow tempo. I like how the background music is only a piano melody since it adds to the song’s depressing mood and captures the essence of grieving. This song also maintains a consistent rhythm, which is well suited for the mood listeners are intended to feel.
Rating: 10/10
“Drunk In My Mind” compares falling in love with the state of being drunk, and how some romantic relationships feel good in the moment but end up not working out. I thought it was an interesting comparison to make a song about, but I felt like the melody near the end was getting repetitive.
Rating: 8.5/10
This track is about the fear of losing a loved one and the paranoia a person might feel because of this fear. I liked how there were many instruments used in this song and how the song didn’t sound as depressing as the lyrics did.
Rating: 8.5/10
Beginning with the repetition of a few piano notes, this song is about moving on from a past relationship. I did not expect the background music to change into something more upbeat almost a minute into the song, so I thought it was a nice surprise. I also thought it was interesting how the upbeat nature of this song juxtaposed with the song’s sad lyrics.
Rating: 9/10
With a fast tempo and cheerful beat, the lyrics of this track are reminiscent of a relationship. I liked how in one part of the song Boone mentions “two fireworks tied to a rollerblade,” which refers to the cover of this album. I also liked the variation of the rhythm within the song, as it makes it more engaging for listeners and makes them wonder what to expect.
Rating: 8/10
Through a euphonious piano melody, the lyrics in this track show someone not feeling good enough to be with their partner in a relationship. I liked the instrumentation in the background as well as the lyrics. However, I felt that the lyrics were getting repetitive near the end. I would have liked the song more if there had been some variation at that part.
Rating: 8/10
This track reflects upon what loving someone is like through a slow tempo and piano music in the background. I like how profound the lyrics are, but I would have liked this song to be quick-paced like some of the previous songs on this album.
Rating: 9/10
“Friend”
This track is about wanting a friend or someone to rely on when times are tough. I enjoyed this song for its deep lyrics about friendship, and like “Forever and a Day,” this song has a moderate speed tempo that captures the nature and mood of the song.
Rating: 8/10
This track captures the feeling of finally moving on from a relationship that didn’t work and the liberation one gets from moving on from a relationship like that. It starts with a slow melody, but it ends with a fast and more upbeat melody, which is a great way to end this album.
Rating: 9/10
Overall, “Fireworks & Rollerblades” is a well-written album describing the various emotions that fall under the umbrella of love. Each song was unique and made listeners feel various emotions. In the future, fans can hope for more albums from Boone that take listeners on more interesting journeys like this album did.
