‘Big’ Review: Who’s On First

metroweekly.com:

Betty marked her coming into her own as an independent artist, Big (★★★★☆) finds her more confident in herself than ever and cements her status as a queer pop phenomenon.

Two and a half years in the making, it is a welcome reminder that she has lost none of her flair for crafting a catchy, infectious pop song.The album’s title is stylized in all-caps as “BIG!” Described in interviews as an album about self-acceptance, it shows us a Betty Who as outspoken and confident as we have ever seen her.

The title track kicks the album off on a loud and bold note with a ’90s piano ballad riff that would make Celine Dion blush.It is not the only song to embrace a retro sensibility — “Blow Out My Candle,” the first single to be released from Big, leans into a kitschy ’80s aesthetic in its accompanying music video, complete with high white socks and an aerobics-ready leotard.

The celebratory, sexually-charged dance anthem “Weekend” recalls the heyday of MTV with its warm, crunchy synths.She is at her most daring and arguably at her best on “Hey It’s Betty,” a brief but memorable extended brag about her own sexiness and desirability aimed squarely at some real or imaginary hater that she delivers over crashing, buzzing instrumentals.Unsurprisingly, Who’s distinct voice is once again at the forefront of the album.