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Sabrina Carpenter wasn’t the only one who dropped a new album on August 29th, 2025.

The release of Man’s Best Friend coincided with the Beaches’ launch of their third album, No Hard Feelings. The band, formed in 2009 while the four women were still in high school, gained popularity with their single, Blame Brett, which gained over 100 million streams on Spotify. Despite only two out of the four members being part of the LGBTQ+ community, the Beaches are known for their queer anthems and songs about lesbian heartbreak, promoting an atmosphere of acceptance and devastatingly fun energy through their work. Though many of the topics of their songs deal with grief, the Beaches found a way to party through the pain, combining comical lyrics with incredible backing music.

I, for one, having listened to Blame Brett and many of the other songs from the Beaches’ sophomore album consistently over the past year (be sure to check out Cigarette!), thought it only natural that I put on my headphones, listen to No Hard Feelings shrouded in darkness to dampen my other senses, and take notes on each of the songs as if I was preparing to write an indepth Letterboxd review. Below are my thoughts on each of the songs and the album as a whole. 

Can I Call You in the Morning?: 7/10

I thought this was an excellent start to the album; it was upbeat and pop-esque, and it really captured the album’s sound as a whole. My only complaint is that it immediately sounded similar to the songs on their previous album, and I had hoped for something new. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by listening to artists like Conan Gray, Fall Out Boy, or WILLOW, who create albums with new sounds every release, but all in all, I really cannot complain because I do love the Beaches’ sound, and having more of it isn’t as much of a bad thing as I make it seem. 

Did I Say Too Much?: 9/10

This was one of my favorite songs on No Hard Feelings, and I knew that as soon as I heard it. The song perfectly encapsulates the vibes and sound of three other artists I love, however, so I am unsure if it is truly the genius of the song that drew me to it or if it was the memories associated with the other artists that made me love this track. The sound was a perfect combination of Chappel Roan, girl in red (specifically in the I’M DOING IT AGAIN BABY! era), and Beach Bunny, and I have loved the latter two since middle school, so it would be impossible for me to dislike Did I Say Too Much?. 

Sorry For Your Loss: 8.5/10

This is another one of my favorites. The build-up to the chorus is simply amazing, and I also just really liked the concept of the song and its execution. I don’t have many more comments other than this song is simply a must-listen. 

Touch Myself: 7/10

I want to start by saying this song isn’t bad in any capacity, but I did expect more. It was released as a single ahead of time, but I waited to listen until the entire album was released, and this was one of the songs I was most excited for. However, it just kind of fell flat, in my opinion. The lyrics are funny, and I like the play on words within them. I am also a big fan of the vocals during the line “When I do I think of you.” Those were the only things that stuck out to me, though, and I really just had higher expectations. 

Fine, Let’s Get Married: 6/10

I liked this song, but the sound is just insanely similar to almost every other song that they’ve previously released. Similar to Touch Myself, I was very underwhelmed. The only thing that stood out to me within the song was the talking part (1:25), which was unique, comical, and added to the concept, as well as showcasing the personality of the band.  

Takes One To Know One: 9/10

This was a song that met my expectations. The concept seemed in-character for the band, and it was executed really well with great lyrics and a great backing track. I definitely understand why it’s one of the more popular songs on the album. 

I  Wore You Better: 5/10

This was the only song that I didn’t really like or add to my playlist. I was a fan of the verses, but the lyrics were very repetitive. I liked the concept of the song, but it seemed similar to Did I Say Too Much?. It also immediately reminded me of Heather by Conan Gray. I feel like this song would’ve had more potential if it had been released a few years earlier, but released now, it kind of seems like a copycat. Because I do like Conan Gray and figured this could just be a me-problem, I had two of my friends who are not Conan Gray fans listen to the song, and I asked them to give me their opinions and let me know if the song reminded them of anything. I specifically made sure not to ask them if it reminded them of another song because I did not want my question to be leading or influence their replies. Unlike me, they did not think about Heather, but they did say it seemed like a typical indie song. 

Dirty Laundry: 8/10

I really loved the sound of this one! It started slow, which I wasn’t expecting, but picked up around eight seconds in. Similar to Sorry For Your Loss, I don’t really have any notes. It’s simply just a song that should not be skipped when listening to the album.

Lesbian Of The Year: 7.5/10

Another song that I went in with way too high hopes for. Despite this, it wasn’t a bad song. I really liked the sound, especially regarding the verses. It was much slower than their other songs, so it was the unique sound I’d been hoping for, so +.5 points for that. 

Jocelyn: 6.5/10

I feel like the majority of my lower rankings come from the fact that I just expected more from the songs, and this is the same case with Jocelyn. I didn’t dislike the song, it was just really repetitive; for a band that is known for their interesting lyrics, this song didn’t seem to fit in with the others, and not in the unique way that I’d been looking for. The main redeeming feature of this song is the bridge, which makes it almost worth listening to on its own. The bridge is astounding. 

Last Girls At The Party:  7/10

I think this was a perfect choice to end the album on. The progression of the numbers increasing at 1:42 is the highlight of the song. While I don’t think the song itself is anything all that special, its placement is what gives it a higher ranking.

Overall Favorite: Takes One To Know One

Overall Least Favorite: I Wore You Better

Overall Ranking: 7.4/10

Final Thoughts: I liked the album as a whole! There was only one skip, and the Beaches’ sound was consistent throughout (except for Lesbian Of The Year), which can be good or bad depending on what you’re hoping for. My main complaint is that I wish there were some transitions between the songs. One other small critique I have is that I also feel like all of the best songs were centered toward the beginning, so the album dropped off a bit as it went on. Despite these minor adjustments I would make, I really did enjoy the time I spent listening to and analyzing each song, and I would recommend that anyone who likes indie music–or just likes trying out new music–take out 35 minutes of your day to listen to No Hard Feelings. 

By Meredith Hunsader