Blackbear has followed in the path of other ‘10s alt-R&B stars like The Weeknd by cutting sharp pop melodies full of decadent orchestration and wicked narratives. The catchy piano chords and echoing finger-snaps of “I Miss the Old U” act as a counterpoint to his slide into a druggy abyss, while “Sniffing Vicodin in Paris” finds him reminiscing about getting high with an ex as he mocks the brattish vapidness of L.A.'s rich kids. On the murky blips and bleeps of “Girls Like U”, his pristine vocals emerge from the smoke and shadows as he realises he's in too deep with a dangerous girl who's both “a blessing and a curse”.