Phoebe Bridgers’s “Lost Weekend” Arrives with Contested Singles

Phoebe Bridgers released her latest record, *Lost Weekend*, accompanied by a video for the synth-laden track “I Can’t Wait.” The album dropped on a Friday, and the lead single “Lost Boys” was promoted earlier. Both songs have been highlighted in the initial promotional push, but the artist’s choice of lead single has sparked debate among critics.

New York Times

New York Times critic Lindsay Zoladz argues that “Lost Boys,” while buoyant, does not capture the album’s most distinctive qualities. She notes that the track required several listens before she could appreciate it, and even then she feels it falls short of representing the record’s emotional range. Zoladz also describes “I Can’t Wait” as a rare, cautiously optimistic piece that she finds less compelling than other album cuts. Her assessment suggests that the singles chosen for promotion may not be the strongest entry points for listeners seeking the album’s core appeal.

New York Times

According to Zoladz, *Lost Weekend* is meticulously sequenced, moving fluidly between elation and grief. She highlights “Bobby,” a song that references a character from the early-1990s cartoon *Tiny Toon Adventures* and contains allusions to Bridgers’s boyfriend, filmmaker-comedian Bo Burnham, specifically his pandemic-era special “Inside.” The track explores the intensity of early-stage infatuation, pairing lyrical obsession with a sense of urgency. Zoladz characterizes the album’s overall sound as a blend of indie folk sensibility with occasional retro-leaning soul and punk influences.

New York Times

Zoladz places *Lost Weekend* alongside Bridgers’s previous work, noting that the album’s depth rewards a full, front-to-back listen rather than a focus on isolated singles. The critic’s perspective underscores a broader conversation about how artists and labels select lead tracks, especially when an album’s narrative strength lies in its sequencing rather than any single standout song.

New York Times