In 2020, Michael Hadreas, who records under the moniker Perfume Genius, released
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately, one of the best albums of that year. Even though his previous album,
No Shape, was also critically acclaimed,
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately endeared him even more to fans and critics alike. Although the strength of his discography leaves this open to debate, the captivating mix of pop accessibility, vulnerability, and sensuality of
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately could reasonably be called an artistic peak for Hadreas. However, given the rapturous reception of that album and how it could be a comfortable place for Hadreas to plateau, it's only natural that he may want to avoid that. To keep the listener on their toes - to explore a bit.
Ugly Season is the fascinating result of that exploration - within the first 5 seconds imposing synths, strings, and fragile piano in "Just a Room" make it clear that Hadreas is walking a very different path. "Just a Room" begins ominously - Hadreas' voice is cold, buried - and then ethereal as the light peaks through the clouds. It's an effective opener that is abrasive in the context of expectations - it feels like a statement of intent. Hadreas is telling the listener to re-calibrate their expectations because he is offering a different type of brilliance this time.
