Blondshell – “23” (A Baby Song) Review Song Review by Kyle Williams, Mayhem Rockstar Magazine Radio

Blondshell – “23” (A Baby Song) Review
Song Review by Kyle Williams, Mayhem Rockstar Magazine Radio

Blondshell’s latest track, “23 (A Baby Song),” is a raw, aching meditation on coming of age in the most emotionally naked sense. Known for her ability to fuse grunge-era angst with confessional modern songwriting, Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) crafts a sonic landscape that is both disarmingly honest and beautifully restrained.

At its core, “23” isn’t just about age—it’s about the weight of experience (or lack thereof), the blurring between innocence and disillusionment, and the deep desire to be seen even when you don’t yet fully understand yourself. The title’s parenthetical—“A Baby Song”—isn’t irony; it’s a painfully self-aware whisper from someone stuck in the paradox of youth: old enough to know better, too young to stop hurting.

Her lyrics are characteristically candid: “I wanted love but I needed a mirror,” she sings, hinting at codependency, projection, and the murky introspection of young relationships. Teitelbaum’s delivery is weary but precise, wrapped in sparse guitar lines and unpolished instrumentation that serve to highlight the emotional gut punches.

Musically, “23” falls in line with her earlier work—think Fiona Apple’s fearlessness, Phoebe Bridgers’ atmospheric vulnerability, and Hole’s lyrical rage distilled into something quieter but just as potent. It’s less about hooks and more about release.

What makes the song stand out is its restraint. Blondshell doesn’t explode; she simmers. The song moves like a late-night realization you weren’t ready for—a sobering, slightly drunken walk home where the truth catches up to you.

Verdict:
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

“23 (A Baby Song)” is another reminder that Blondshell isn’t interested in performing strength—she’s offering honesty. And in a landscape full of polished illusions, that’s what hits the hardest.