Paradame – The Moon Is A Spaceship

Paradame – The Moon Is A Spaceship – Album Review

“It’s a cruel world for some of us, so they say.”

I might have to be included as one of them that would say something like that this time around y’all.  For real – Paradame out here STILL looking & sounding incredible some ELEVEN YEARS after we first crossed paths back in 2015 when I reviewed her project known as Active I…and I’m supposed to just accept the fact that I’m slowly being rendered into a bridge troll thanks to father time?  It’s a cruel world indeed yo!

No joke folks – Paradame still sounds like she’s on the way up – her new album proves it.

Love the depth this record starts out with as “Fallanassi” begins.  Right off the drop, it’s got the kind of texture and sound quality you’d find on a Massive Attack album…and anyone that knows anything about me would instantly tell ya I’m gonna be into that.  For real…check out the sound of this song as it hits the two minute mark and you’ll know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.  Turn it UP – I guarantee you’ll feel the swell of the low-end shake your freakin’ walls folks!  So hell yeah…I had no problem getting right into this album quickly given that Paradame has got such an exceptional gateway into it as the opening cut.  As for the subject matter, heck, I even learned something as I was listening – did you know that “Fallanassi” comes from the Star Wars universe?  Who knew?  Oh – most of you knew that already?  Well…damn.  I’ll admit, I’m not so educated in the Lucasverse…I’ve seen like…the main ones?  LOL.  I have no business trying to cop to knowing about anything I’ve watched – but let the record show that YES, I was indeed one of those people that stood for hours in line when Star Wars I was officially released.  Sure, I was given a ticket, but I still stood there for what seemed like forever and a day, okay?  I digress.  I mean, I kinda digress.  It’s related subject matter, so deal with it.  Look – all I ever claim to know anything about is what sounds good to my ears y’all – and homegirl from Seattle has always sounded great to me.  I still have that Active I album in my archives, and there’s evidence in both the SBS Secret Stash Of Stellar Singles (shhh!) & the SBS Podcast that prove I kept on listening long after I wrote my review on Earth Is Dead, But We’re Alive.  I’m a big fan of Paradame and what she’s capable of, and tracks like “Fallanassi” immediately reveal WHY.  Yes, she can spit BARS and I appreciate that, but she’s got so much more in her bag than that…she’s got the spiritual side of her sound & a gift for melody too.

The sound of The Moon Is A Spaceship lightens up a bit as “Bring It Down” continues to make an impact on us.  Don’t get it twisted – the low-end is still a major factor in the whole vibe she puts out, but you’ll know what I mean when you hear it.  Whereas “Fallanassi” was shrouded in an air of mystery, “Bring It Down” gives you a clearer glimpse into what she can do.  Paradame has always been exceptionally versatile thanks to the natural skillset she possesses, and you’ll hear her flex the variety of her talents on a track like “Bring It Down” where she’s written several different parts for her vocals that have her shifting between multiple gears.  From doing the lead and backing vocals in a call & answer style, to really dialing in on the melodic aspect of her singing voice and impressing your ears with that as well, to the different patterns she’s designed to keep you entertained in that regard…like…this is commendable work well worthy of serious accolades!  I’ll put it to you this way – she could have taken a much easier route than she’s chosen for herself on “Bring It Down,” but thankfully, she’s comfortable not settling for a simple lay-up.  Paradame artistically challenges herself to find a stunning level of fluidity that can only be described as what it sounds like when preparation meets opportunity.  She knows this material backwards & forwards, and when it came time to push record, she was clearly more than ready for it.  This really works – “Bring It Down” has music that will have no problem at all catching your interest, and hearing Paradame thriving in her element with such confidence, intent, and purpose is a genuine treat.

Here’s what’s real.  If you knew how many times I had to advise someone out there to pick a lane and NOT do both the verses AND the hooks in their music, you’d be astounded…there are far too many out there that are really damn good at one thing, but not the other.  Paradame is certainly the exception to that scenario in every way, and a track like “Return To Base” will prove I ain’t just blowin’ smoke.  You regular readers already know I’m not here to pump tires and that I call things as I hear’em…but if you’re new to our pages and thought I might just be saying all the nice things I can think of – LISTEN to a song like “Return To Base” and you’ll find the work Paradame has put in speaks volumes more on her behalf than anything I could ever say would.  She doesn’t NEED a cheerleader or an advocate when it comes right down to it – she’s EARNED these words of praise through the work she’s put in.  I mean…this ain’t her first rodeo y’all…she’s got albums online that trace back to 2010, which is technically before this site you’re reading this review on even existed – so believe me when I tell ya, she deserves her veteran of the m-i-c status, and comes ready to do battle when the red light comes on and it’s time to record.  That doesn’t mean I’m not still absolutely STOKED to hear things going as right for her as they are on this album.  You don’t get to this level of seamlessly fluidity overnight – you get there by putting in the WORK, and she should be extremely proud of what she’s accomplished her.  Her vocals are outstanding on “Return To Base” if you ask me.  Don’t get me wrong, she’s always impressive with her lyricism, her metering, and her ability to construct a complex verse and rock it from start to finish – I came into this review KNOWING that about Paradame already – but when it comes to a track like “Return To Base,” I really felt like it was her singing voice that stole the whole damn show.  She’s a multi-threat on the mic.

While I might like “Return To Base” more as a song from beginning to end, I am genuinely in AWE of so much of what she does on “Road” right afterwards.  I’ve made the Massive Attack comparison already, because it’s valid…but like…if you’re familiar with their Splitting The Atom EP, tell me that a track like “Road” doesn’t have uncanny similarities in texture & tone to how a guest star like Martina Topley Bird sings “Psyche” – it’s seriously amazing to hear what Paradame does with her voice on this song.  It’s got this like…indescribable flexibility to it that’s like some sort of magical vocal yoga…she’s got the ability to bend her tones with such precision, and it gives a song like “Road” such a completely compelling vibe.  I’ll fully admit, without that, I’m not sure where a cut like “Road” ends up…but that’s like wondering what Neapolitan ice-cream would be like without all of its flavors involved, you feel me?  It’s a roundabout way of saying that, sure, she’s written some solid hooks and ideas for this song, but they likely wouldn’t hit in the same way that they do if someone else were to sing it.  Well…aside from Bird that is…I guess I’ve made the case that either Paradame or Martina could pull this off, but that’s the end of the freakin’ list y’all – so appreciate greatness when you hear it, will ya?  Love the music that comes with this one too…from its rubbery, malleable sound, to the crystal clarity of the piano melody that it will end on in the finale, “Road” is an adventurous and ambitious track, and Paradame handles every curve of its melody with the expertise of her professionalism.  I’m seriously impressed with the diversity of her skillset, and a track like “Road” really shows you how many tools she’s got inside her vocal toolkit.

The hook of “To The Grave” is a very strong and memorable part.  Don’t get me wrong…I know that an artist like Paradame probably considers herself to be a rapper first and foremost, and the rest of what she does comes secondary…that’s my assumption.  I think the reality is, she’s proving that she’s equally effective on both fronts throughout the material on The Moon Is A Spaceship, if not in fact actually proving that she’s even more potent as a singer than she is as a rapper…at least from my perspective.  Obviously that’s no disrespect intended – it’s completely the opposite – I’m sure people out there have praised her plenty for her bars and precision-perfect metering/flow plenty of times before I ever got around to it…all I’m saying is that she’s one hell of a singer too.  I think she flexes plenty of strength on a stylistic level as she raps her way through the verses of “To The Grave” and I’m fully confident that just about anyone listening would hear her talent from the lefts to the rights…but c’mon y’all…C’MON – are you telling me that she’s not even more amazing in the main hooks where she’s singing?  Nah…I ain’t listening to that argument if that’s the one you’re making…I’m comfortable in my bubble if that’s the case, and I’m just gonna live in the reality I’m objectively surrounded in.  I think it’s more along the lines of something like…jesus…how do I explain this…it’s like…there is only so many different ways that a person can rap, you follow me?  I’m not just talkin’ about Paradame – I’m talkin’ about ALL rappers.  It’s a more static way of rocking the mic, and there’s really no way around that…it just is what it is.  When it comes to singing and the use of melody however, there are like, infinite combinations of how you can approach the writing and execution of something like that, and so that’s where I find myself the most impressed by the uniqueness that Paradame has written into this record track after track after track.  “To The Grave” has its best moments when she’s just singing the title and the vocalizations around it – it’s as simple as that, and it actually proves that an artist of her caliber can make something simple have a complexity to it that’s powerfully alluring.  She’s mesmerizing in this track every time she starts to sing in this track, straight up.  Everything else around the hook is solid as it gets, but it’s the hook that makes the difference in providing a memorable reason to return to this track, and really shows her versatility.  Beyond all that good-good stuff on the mic, the attention to detail in the music is freakin’ exquisite here.

Did Paradame pick the right lead single by releasing “The Bodysnatchers” in advance of the record a couple years back?  Fuck yes she did.  If you’re doubting this amazing artist’s instincts at this point after hearing all that you have throughout The Moon Is A Spaceship…well…that’s on you, and it ain’t gonna pay off on any bets on Polymarket, I can promise you that.  As objectively as I could ever put it to you, “The Bodysnatchers” is just an absolutely brilliant song, full stop.  While I try not to allow my opinions to be tainted by a video when I’m reviewing the music I’m listening to – what am I supposed to do here?  The only thing that could potentially rival the brilliance of the song itself IS the video that comes with it!  I don’t know how this escaped me until now, but I’m tellin’ ya…don’t miss out on “The Bodysnatchers” – it’s fucking EPIC when combined with the video.  With a perfect concept written by Brenna Vertz and immaculate direction from J.Lee Vertz…everyone involved in this respectively brought their A-game to it.  With Paradame front & center, she’ll show you she’s got a stunning degree of star-power as she moves through the city streets, and once again, the attention to detail in what you see upfront, to what’s happening in the background with the additional characters and signs on the storefronts…I mean…it’s just so freakin’ well thought-out.  I love the way that Vertz has got everyone moving in this video, and the way the camera captures it all is equally impressive.  From sped-up footage to slowed-down visuals and a highly clever use of effects, everything works brilliantly to make this video as creepy as it is cool.  Paradame is straight-up SPELLBINDING on this track…it’s right up there with the best I’ve ever heard from her, and I don’t think I’d be alone in feeling that way.  I love the whispered hook in this track so freakin’ much, and her stylistic instincts on how to approach this whole song are truly second to none.

There are LESSONS to be learned in what she’s created on this record, and I sincerely hope that some of y’all are paying attention.  Later this week, I’m going to be reviewing an album with a staggering number of tracks on it – thirty-nine in total – and if I’m being entirely honest with you, that’s fucking ridiculous.  From what I can tell online, it looks like Paradame hasn’t released a record since 2018 – and with EIGHT songs on The Moon Is A Spaceship, that’s essentially a song a year.  You wanna know the difference?  Quality.  That’s what it is y’all.  I’m not saying she couldn’t potentially up her output a little and still achieve amazing results…in fact, I’m confident that she COULD.  However, in my humble opinion, she chose quality over quantity, went at her own pace, and achieved extraordinary results.  Like, if you’re going to take a significant amount of time away, you want that next step to be a giant leap forward – and that’s exactly what it feels like this whole album is on both an artistic & professional level.  It doesn’t have an ounce of dead space to it, which is something no album with thirty-nine freakin’ songs will ever be able to compete with.  When you do too much, you end up watering down your own content – and chances are, you’ve worn out your audience in ways that won’t keep them coming back for another spin.  I’ve been listening to The Moon Is A Spaceship all week long happily from the moment I got it, because the material and performances are BULLETPROOF.  T’ain’t hyperbole folks, I assure you.  If you need further proof, feel free to listen to a track like “Think Fast” and judge for yourselves.  In fact, I’d much prefer that you doubted EVERY SINGLE WORD I’ve said so far, so that you go and LISTEN to decide for yourself.  I’m more than confident you’ll come to the same conclusions I have.  I know it’s early in 2026, but you better believe I’m adding this album to my ongoing shortlist for the best of the year – that’s how wisely concise and tight this set-list is.  I can promise you there’s no album over twenty songs that could potentially justifiably make a top-ten list in any objective critic’s site, ever.  Not if they’re being real with ya.  I always tell you that there are a handful of albums with more than twelve songs on it that we could consider to be perfect throughout ALL of music’s history, and I firmly stand by that.  So take a lesson out of Paradame’s playbook here…she’s approached every ticking moment of this album the right way, and she should be making space on her shelf for some hardware and recognition for her efforts this year.  “Think Fast” is another cut that highlights her ability to deliver on what the material is calling out for, and she delivers her vocals with such supreme confidence and fluidity it’ll leave you speechless.  Don’t judge by all these words I’ve written…I was speechless at first for quite a while until I figured out what the heck I might say about this whole record.  This is remarkable work, start to finish.

And so here we are…we’ve reached the end…track eight…”The Sinner.”  I hope you’re ready to check the ‘repeat all’ button and have cleared your schedule for the day, because you’re going to WANT to spend more time with this record, if not feel like you absolutely NEED to like a record junkie needs a needle to the veins of a vinyl.  I would sit and listen to Paradame sing the phonebook if she felt so inclined.  Maybe it’s partly a case of absence making the heart grow fonder…I’m not ruling that out entirely, but I know how to be objective after spending more than half my life as a critic too, so I’m confident this album is every bit as great as I’ve been telling you it is.  If we all have to wait another eight years to get another Paradame album, then so be it if it means we get one of this caliber & quality.  I can’t even believe it has been eleven years since the last time we officially crossed paths – that’s insane!  She’s right there in my preferred home away from home in Seattle…maybe I’ll see her at the clipping. show when they hit the Showbox towards the end of February – she’s gotta have love for that crew too, right?  Fuck, with the work she’s put into this album, she should be opening the damn show as far as my ears are concerned!  In any event…I’m sure you get the point by now – right through to the end on “The Sinner,” Paradame has proven to be a force to be reckoned with and absolutely at the top of her game.  She doles out an impressive dose of brutal honesty and insightful wisdom on “The Sinner” to finish this album off, and might arguably put one of her most lyrically powerful cuts at the end for its finale.  I wasn’t lying to ya at the start when I said it still sounds like she’s on her way UP…I really do think this is the best I’ve heard from her to-date, and I’m somehow still confident that she’ll go on to amaze us all even more from here.  Rest assured, if you somehow haven’t read between the lines of what I’m saying AT LENGTH in this review, The Moon Is A Spaceship ain’t just good, it’s absolutely fucking great.

Find out more about Paradame from her official website at:  https://paradame.com

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