Judy Blank
Big Mood
Rounder Records
Recently, I published a Substack piece in which I pointed to a few of my current favorite “Summer Jams.” But like so many other steamy seasons from the past, the best and brightest 2025 summer release didn’t arrive until the “dog days.” And with her latest, Big Mood, Netherlands-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Judy Blank has dropped a doozie — a delicate and dreamy delight that packs all the super-sweet punch of a basketful of cotton candy heisted from the Wonka factory following a weekly therapy session.
I’ve (probably) said it a million times before, however, it’s a perspective that’s worth repeating: a music artist can own all the “vibe” in the world, but if they ain’t got songs, they ain’t got jack. Fortunately, for me and other song-crazed consumers, Big Mood bursts with enticing earworms that ooze retro-style, soft pop authenticity, without feeling too nostalgic.
Despite the record’s overall “happy space” exterior, Blank ain’t shy about dishing up heaping helpings of deeply personal, world-class storytelling. Musically, Big Mood also combines soaring synths with gunky guitars, resulting in a vibe similar to a slightly bratty Cardigans after being denied a curfew extension on prom night.
Produced and engineered by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Roy van Rosendaal, the 13-track cavalcade breaks bad straight out the gate with the sunny-sounding standout, “Killing Time.” But beware, Blank is a sneaky lil’ rascal. This record opener may feel light and breezy, however, Blank has revealed how the lyrics actually address “the absurdity of chasing perfection, when time doesn’t wait for any of us.” She adds, “I mentally transported myself back to my high school days, when that body self-awareness crept in for the first time during a random PE class at the local swimming pool on a hot summer day. Never forget, existential dread hits us all at some point, and I’m still figuring it out.”
An honest and pure Polaroid of a fresh and fragile romance, the eye-catching “pretty in pink” video single, “Toy Heart,” is an irresistible highlight, constructed entirely of compelling word craft — “this day is sweet like a cough drop.” Another video single, “Dinosaurs,” is equally engaging. “I was obsessed with disaster movies as a kid. Now, I sometimes feel like I’m living in one,” says Blank. “When I wrote this song, I thought of it as a postcard from the future. I hope it can be a low-key reminder that it’s time to change the ending.”
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will confess openly that this is a record that I physically can’t stop listening to — kinda like that time I was hooked on amphetamines. I even keep it playing all night, every night in an iTunes playlist loop on my bedside laptop. And more than once, “Indian Summer Pool Co.” has woken me from a sound sleep in the wee hours. Although the song is about (another) one of Blank’s romantic attractions, the magic of the melody, pinned to the beauty of Blank’s voice, makes this track so powerful, it hurts. Yet, I keep reaching over and hitting the replay button, anyway.
What thwacked me hardest, from the tippy, was Blank’s captivating words. In the otherwise pleasant-feeling “No Thank You,” Blank writes, “I’m not gonna die tonight, if that’s alright. I’ll just stay alive. That would be better. Figured it all out. I’ll skip the birthday cake. Who’s to say I’m not allowed to live forever?” And while I’m no “cryer,” the post relationship zinger, “You Don’t Live Here Anymore,” zaps me every time. But it doesn’t make me cry, ‘cuz I’m WAY too tough for that kinda thing.
In sum, Big Mood is a true blue summertime sizzler. And even though it didn’t crash the barbecue until August, it’s definitely a case of “better late than never.” A must-spin, for sure!
Big Mood Track List
01. Killing Time (J. Blank, G. Tenhaeff) – 2:49
02. Toy Heart (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 3:19
03. Dinosaurs (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 2:36
04. Pony (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 3:00
05. Indian Summer Pool Co. (J. Blank) – 2:39
06. Cosmic Kids (J. Blank, S. Van Ommen) – 3:24
07. Fading Star (J. Blank, E. Longley, S. Brown) – 3:20
08. Birthday (J. Blank, P. Damphier) – 3:00
09. No Thank You (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 3:36
10. You Don’t Live Here Anymore (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 3:05
11. I’m Out (J. Blank, R. Van Rosendaal) – 3:24
12. You Say (J. Blank, Y. Van Norden, R. Van Rosendaal) – 2:56
13. Over Now (J. Blank, P. Damphier) – 2:56
