Many of us recognize that feeling of walking into a room and feeling out of place, or convinced that we're the least welcomed person there. Now add cameras and social media to that, along with an entire generation watching, and it becomes something that Chase Hudson (Huddy) understands all too well. The alternative rock artist has jumped head-first into his independent-artist era with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album, Somebody to Hate.
About the album, Huddy describes, "There’s struggle, confusion, hopelessness, grief, heartache, love, and empowerment. Against all odds, I kept persevering until I got to where I wanted to be. I felt like I was being labeled somebody that people wanted to hate, so I took that and turned it into a positive by taking ownership of the critiques everyone wanted to make about me.”
While I believe there's plenty of love to share among an artist's discography, fans shouldn't go into this album expecting the sounds of the Teenage Heartbreak debut. This album has all of the grit and growth that comes from experience, both positive and negative.
Somebody to Hate is a rollercoaster of emotions, exploring themes of identity, growth, love, and everything in between. This album is the perfect high-energy collection of music to play live (we need a STH Tour, please), and should be listened to on nothing less than surround sound for the full experience. While the combination of romantic, dreamlike, powerful, and confident vibes mingle throughout the entirety of the 13-track album, let's check out some standout songs from the tracklist.
The opening track, "What Do You Want From Me," starts the fight off strong, as Huddy still appears unsure of himself. The chorus searches for expectations, asking everyone around, "What do you want from me?" There is a sense that Huddy has broken down, conforming and giving up who he truly is through lyrics like, "And it hurts all the same when you're traumatized// And I bend and I break just to compromise" and "Promise I'm trying, tell me, is it over yet?// Oh, is it over yet?// I can't keep fighting, running on adrenaline// Running on adrenaline// Sick and I'm tired, thinking that I'm at the end". At first, it may come off as a bleak way to start an album about confidence and identity, but stick with me as we follow the growth the album represents, from start to finish.
Several of the tracks share recurring faith-related imagery, such as angels. The clearest songs where this imagery stands the strongest are situated in the bottom half of the album, including "Fragile," "Dreamscape," and "Blinding Wings." This shows how Huddy has held on to his faith, despite the obstacles in his journey. We see the battle of light and dark within the "Fragile" music video. The "Dreamscape" lyrics "My demons creep around at nighttime// Used to fall asleep so terrified// Show me who you are on the inside// I don't want a war, I want paradise" and "You're my angel, you're my dreamscape// Don't wake me up now" rely heavily on this imagery. Similarly, as the title suggests, the "Blinding Wings" imagery occurs repeatedly.
We can't close out this review without some honorable mentions. "Swan Song" is the perfect love song. It is poetic proof that Huddy writes about love just as beautifully as he does pain. This song may also officially be my favorite from the album. The growth cycle is completed on a more positive note with the album's final song, "The One," where Huddy's confidence shines the brightest as he makes his claim that he "overcame, I'm here to stay" and is "hoping there’s an angel watching over".
The best part of the release is going back and rewatching all of the music videos in order as the story unfolds. The storytelling was perfectly done, creatively portraying Huddy's journey as an artist. Visually, the continuity of the set designs and wardrobe throughout the videos creates a beautiful world where Huddy can confidently own his new era as an independent artist. (If you're curious, check out the videos for "Vendetta," "Fragile," "Cheap," and "Somebody To Hate," in that order.)
