Space Cadet (EP)

Beabadoobee released "She Plays Bass" as the lead single on 21 August,[1] before releasing the second single "I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus" on 19 September.[2] Beabadoobee confessed to Nylon in early October that she hadn't formally announced the record but noted that "people know about it. I kind of say it here and there on a live show and then I guess like for [interviews], but I never properly said the name Space Cadet."[3] Originally scheduled for release on 18 October 2019, Space Cadet arrived earlier on 14 October.[4] It succeeds the EPs Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018) and Loveworm (2019).[4] On the concept of the record, Erica Russel of Teen Vogue wrote, "aptly-titled Space Cadet finds the artist leaning heavily into the frustration of being misunderstood and the awkward uncertainty of inching closer towards adulthood. Over an emotive soundbed of fuzzy indie-rock, melancholic grunge, and breezy pop-rock, Bea reassures listeners that it’s okay not to fit in."[5]

The EP is musically performed in the genre of indie rock and indie pop.[6][7][8][9] Erica Russel of Teen Vogue also wrote that the record features "an emotive soundbed of fuzzy indie-rock, melancholic grunge, and breezy pop-rock".[5] All five tracks on Space Cadet were executively produced by Pete Robertson (former drummer of The Vaccines) and Joseph Rodgers.[10] The title track also features additional guitar by labelmate Matthew Healy of the band The 1975 whom Beabadoobee would later support on their Music for Cars Tour.[10]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Dork	[11]
Exclaim!	8/10[12]
The Line of Best Fit	8/10[13]
NME	[14]

Space Cadet was met with critical acclaim upon release. At review aggregator Album of the Year, the release received a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 4 reviews.[15]

Thomas Smith of NME wrote noted that Space Cadet "builds on Bea’s astute songwriting and is a bold revolution for another bright young artist showing off Gen Z’s attitude to take something tried-and-tested and give it a new lease of life." He continued to note that "judging by this effort, she’s poised to become a hero in her own right."[14] Stephen Ackroyd of Dork wrote that "from the word go, this is a fuller, more focused take on the template - scuzzy guitars and slacker pop perfection."[11] Nicole DeMarco of i-D wrote that the EP contains "some of Bea’s most expansive work yet" and noted that the EP indicates her growth "from [a] bedroom artist to indie rock wunderkind."[16] Harper Beattie of Atwood Magazine praised Space Cadet, writing that it "has artfully managed to offer a cohesive showcase of [her] range as a rising artist while incorporating the familiar outer space motif."[17] Cady Siregar of The Line of Best Fit wrote that with the record, Beabadoobee "wears her heart on her sleeve, and she doesn’t care who sees it."[13] Ian Gormely of Exclaim! noted that her ability to "spin emotional stakes out of such basic subject matter as her bass-playing bestie and love for '90s alt-rock" as well as "the sheer speed of her progression as a songwriter, suggest big things to come."[12]

Adapted from Tidal.[18]