“I’ve known of The Beaches for a little while, but I’ll be honest: seeing them live for the first time when they opened for Louis Tomlinson in Miami completely changed the way I listened to them. There’s a difference between knowing a band’s name and actually seeing them walk onto a stage and immediately command the room. They were energetic, confident, funny, and had this effortless chemistry that made it really easy to get caught up in their set. I remember leaving that show thinking, “Okay, I need to pay more attention to this band.”
That experience definitely followed me into No Hard Feelings.
What I like most about this album is how much personality The Beaches put into it. It doesn’t feel overly polished to the point where the personality gets lost. There’s still that messy, loud, slightly chaotic energy that makes their music so much fun, but there’s also a more vulnerable side that gives the album some emotional weight.
“Sorry for Your Loss” was an immediate standout for me. There’s something about the combination of the guitars, the melody and the attitude that just feels very The Beaches. “I Wore You Better” is another one that really stuck with me, while “Lesbian of the Year” surprised me by showing a softer and more introspective side of the band. And then you have “Fine, Let’s Get Married,” which is just ridiculously fun and has the kind of humor that makes you want to laugh while simultaneously singing along.
I think that’s what makes No Hard Feelings work for me. The album doesn’t feel like it’s trying desperately to prove something. It knows what kind of band The Beaches are. They can give you a big rock song, a brutally honest relationship song, something funny and completely unserious, and then turn around and give you something vulnerable. Somehow, it all still feels like them.
And maybe I’m a little biased because of that Miami show, but I kept imagining how some of these songs would sound live. After seeing their energy firsthand, I can hear the crowd singing these songs back to them and understand why their live shows have developed such a strong following. There’s an electricity to their music that makes even the studio recordings feel like they belong in a room full of people.
I wouldn’t say No Hard Feelings is a flawless album, and I still think Blame My Ex has some higher highs for me. There are a few moments where the songs can start feeling a little similar. But that doesn’t take away from how enjoyable this record is.
More than anything, this album reminded me why seeing an artist live can completely change your relationship with their music. I went into that Louis Tomlinson show knowing who The Beaches were and walked away genuinely wanting to know them better as a band. No Hard Feelings feels like the perfect follow-up to that experience — confident, catchy, messy, funny and vulnerable all at once.
I’m glad I finally got to see them live, because now when I listen to The Beaches, I don’t just hear the songs. I remember that night in Miami and the feeling of discovering a band that I probably should’ve been paying more attention to sooner.”
