Review
I remember spinning Cat Burns' debut on repeat during a rough patch last year, feeling like she was singing straight from my own late-night journal entries, and her sophomore album "How To Be Human" picks up that thread with even more raw edge. Tracks like "Come Home" and "Can Time Move Faster?" hit with this aching piano and subtle bass that mirrors those quiet moments alone in my car, processing a breakup. Then there's "Small Talk" and "Sad Forever," capturing that fake smile at parties while everything inside churns—it's the kind of honesty that makes you nod along, like she's been eavesdropping on your thoughts. The whole thing stays simple, letting her voice cut through without any distractions, just warm textures building enough to hold the weight.
What gets me most is how "How To Be Human" digs into the mess of grief, identity, and queer love without pretending it's all figured out, like in "GIRLS!" or "There's Just Something About Her," which celebrate connection amid the chaos in a way that feels real from my own circle of friends. Songs such as "All This Love," "I Love You, But," and the title track wrestle with masks we wear daily, reminding me of awkward family dinners where you're dying to just be yourself. "Lavender" and "Please Don't Hate Me" unpack that longing for acceptance, flowing into tender closes like "I Wish You Well" and "When I’m With You." It's straightforward soul-R&B that trusts the truth of vulnerability to do the heavy lifting, leaving you lighter for it. - Alex
