Suki Waterhouse’s aptly named Milk Teeth is an EP featuring many of her most evocative singles. Six months after her successful debut album I Can’t Let Go, the musician and actress looks back on her early career tracks, after her recent surge in popularity. The upcoming Daisy Jones and the Six star began her music career with her debut single ‘Brutally’, the appropriately placed closer. Her 2022 single ‘Good Looking’ was a particular stand-out, accumulating over 93 million streams on Spotify and millions of views on TikTok. Milk Teeth is a nostalgic celebration of some of Waterhouse’s best releases, as well as a tribute to her evolving musical style.
The EP opens with a new track, ‘Neon Signs’. The guitar-heavy song of heartbreak contains lines of brilliance such as “Free yourself up from the shackles of your dreams” and ends with the tormented “sold my soul for total control”. The fast-paced, passionate opener provides a contrast against the slower, more melancholy tracks that follow.
The soft acoustics and vocals of ‘Valentine’ reflect the sweet, shy profession of love expressed in Waterhouse’s second single. The love song is hopeful yet wistful, with the final verse hinting at discord within the relationship.
‘Good Looking’, the instant viral hit of 2022, is as impressive as always. Waterhouse’s mesmerising vocals transform this into an addictive song. The slow build-up to the bridge, followed by the sudden re-entry of the drums, both contribute to an unforgettable single with beautiful lyrics and dazzling vocals.
‘Johanna’ is perhaps the most impressive track of this compilation. The hazy nature of the song, peppered with electric guitar riffs and a bewitching opening verse, is a passionate, blurry tale of unrequited longing. The faster-paced song leads perfectly into the next track, and remains a favourite of mine.
Admiration and youthful mistakes are the themes of the quietly reflective ‘Coolest Place in the World’. Waterhouse’s vulnerable assertion that ‘humans fuck up’ brings another aspect of heartbreak to the EP, that of an absent lover with a habit of hurting their loved one.
The final track is an acoustic meditation on the unknown, filled with the nostalgia that permeates the EP. A hopeful, sorrowful acceptance of a breakup, ‘Brutally’ grapples with trying to move on. A perfect closer to an outstanding EP.
Milk Teeth combines Waterhouse’s earliest work with a new release, illustrating her consistent skill as a vocalist. The songs are linked thematically by heartbreak, but each one is unique, in both style and substance. The title harkens back to youth and childhood, and Waterhouse expertly captures first love and the heartache that follows. This recent release is a reminder of everything loved about Waterhouse’s music, and a celebration of her success.
Words by Emily Nutbean
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