Blondshell has returned with her third studio album Violins, and it's one of the best records of 2026.
Why is Blondshell not one of the biggest names in music right now?
I can't answer that question, because I really don't know — she should be.
Her debut album is about as strong as a debut can be, and the follow up If You Asked For a Picture showed growth as an artist and kept the intrigue going. Now, with Violins Blondshell cements herself as a voice that demands attention. Violins is an incredible piece of work. From start to finish the amount of genuine feeling that pours out of this record is astounding. Nothing about this album is phoned in. Blondshell puts it all out there lyrically, and the music is both heart-pounding and emotionally draining (in the best way) at the same time.
Starting things off incredibly strong is the one-two punch of "Violins" and "Heart Has to Work So Hard." If the record was only these two songs it would still be a strong listen. "Violins" represents the "classic" Blondshell sound that, if you've listened to her previous work, you'll immediately be down with. However, the music hits a little harder and the production is through the roof. This is an epic track with an equally epic guitar solo.
Next up is "Heart Has to Work So Hard." In my opinion this is one of the best rock tracks of the year and is a great choice as the lead single. Is this a love song? A breakup song? Maybe it's both!
"Give me some good news /
Tell me something that I did right /
I'm still in stitches /
'Cause you make me laugh and make all of this fine /
But don't look down /
But don't look down /
I called you when I'm crying late /
You said that it looked so brave /
You give me paws /
You get me scaring strangers /
You get me criticizing /
You make this feel like labor /
My heart has to work so hard when you're around /
My heart has to work so hard when you're around"
Blondshell is not appreciated enough for her lyrics. She's a great lyricist. She's both funny and heartbreaking in the same breath, which is not an easy achievement — but she makes it seem so easy! One of the best parts of Violins is hearing her sing something and stopping and thinking "Did she just say that?"
In my opinion every song on Violins has something strong to offer. If you want to cry a little bit throw on "New Shape," if you want epic piano that evolves into gut wrenching rock look no further than "Reinstall," which has my vote for best song on the album. I've already said this, but the feelings this song brings to the surface are heavy to say the least. You need to step away for a second and collect your composure after this track, even though it's really not clear what the song is about (at least to me). That's the power of her work.
When Violins came to a close with "Fur Elise" (yet another standout), I was left feeling more feelings than I knew what to do with. This is an excellent record by one of the more talented musicians in the game right now. Here's hoping that Violins catapults Blondshell into the same space populated by Phoebe Bridgers and Olivia Rodrigo. She deserves it.
