Evergreen in Bloomington, MN

After stepping into her rightful place in the spotlight as the mastermind behind
PVRIS
,
Lyndsey Gunnulfsen
pushed the possibilities (and expectations) of her project's sound to new limits, breaking boundaries and incorporating other styles into her own thrilling alt-rock hybrid. With
' fourth full-length,
Evergreen
, her evolution continues, building upon the promise of 2020's
Use Me
while laser-focusing her attack with equal parts melody and sheer force. An ineffably angst-packed energy surges through the front half of this set, from the gnashing opener "I Don't Wanna Do This Anymore," which rides pulsating electronic backing, traditional riff-and-drum power, and
Gunnulfsen
's frustrated cries, to the cinematic beast "Take My Nirvana," a
Mike Shinoda
-assisted standout where a head-bobbing hip-hop beat, swirling effects, and electrifying rock bounce collide to maximum effect. Other super-charged highlights include the buzzsaw grind of "Goddess" -- a rousing empowerment anthem where
proclaims "I'm a motherf*cking brand" while urging listeners to "Dance, goddess, dance!" -- and the lurching near-metal of the biting "Hype Zombies." Pogoing pop-punk ("Good Enemy"), pseudo-nu-metal (the defiant "Animal"), and hypnotic alt-R&B ("Headlights," "Love Is Aâ?¦") also creep their way into the vibrant mix. The latter half of the LP cools down with the pop-kissed "Senti-Mental" -- a midtempo earworm that showcases her vocal prowess and makes the album's best bid for a radio crossover hit -- and eases into a vulnerable, contemplative space until the closing title track. "Anywhere But Here" rises to the top of the pack, a stunningly gorgeous moment awash with haunted trip-hop atmospherics, lush production, and an urgent sense of yearning. Altogether,
is a masterfully executed maturation that launches
forward into fresh, fearless territory. ~ Neil Z. Yeung