Nothing about Pretty Sparkly Things by Energy Whores feels safe, and that’s exactly why it hits so hard. From its very first bars, the song seduces with shimmering synths and a glitchy vocal hook, creating a kind of luminous surface you can’t help but lean into. But once you’re in, the song shatters illusions.
The band takes aim at the hollow promises of luxury, status, and influencer worship, pulling no punches about how society dangles the unattainable before so many who are barely getting by. Lines like “Can’t pay your bills, can’t afford your pills” hit with a blunt force that lingers well after the track ends. The contrast is deliberate: beauty as bait, critique as punch.
What lifts Pretty Sparkly Things beyond a protest track is how understandably it grooves. The bass and percussion maintain a propulsive energy that keeps your body moving, while the mix stays crisp and dynamic, letting the vocals breathe and land with impact. That tension between dancefloor urge and pointed message is the song’s strongest asset.
Carrie Schoenfeld’s delivery is theatrical and commanding; she doesn’t whisper, she confronts. The production is bold yet uncluttered, allowing each melodic and rhythmic element to sharpen the song’s dual identity as both earworm and manifesto.
In Pretty Sparkly Things, Energy Whores have found a way to wear their critique in glitter. This single invites you to move, even as it forces you to look at what is beneath the shine. It’s a rich, urgent statement and one that promises the upcoming Arsenal of Democracy won’t pull any punches.
