Beauty School Dropout - WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO?
- Samuel Stevens
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Los Angeles rock disruptors Beauty School Dropout have been steadily carving out their space in the new wave of modern rock, and with their long-awaited debut full-length, WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO?, the band delivers a record that feels both hedonistic and heartbreakingly human. Out now via Verswire and produced by hitmaker Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, twenty one pilots, Linkin Park), the album is a loud, raw, and unapologetically fun declaration of who they are and what they stand for.
From the opening blast of “FEVER,” it’s clear Beauty School Dropout aren’t interested in playing it safe. Walls of guitars collide with slick, arena-ready hooks, immediately channelling their mission statement: to bring the energy of a live rock band back into the center of the party. “TWO OF US” follows with driving urgency, balancing punchy riffs with aching vulnerability and synths. Additionally, the song's main guitar riff samples the massive 1978 hit "Rock Lobster" by the B-52's. Lead vocalist Colie Hutzler’s delivery makes the song sting as much as it soars, embodying the album’s theme of longing that never quite finds resolution.
Singles like “ON YOUR LIPS” and even the track “SICK PUPPY” cement the record’s balance of adrenaline and introspection. The former is a shot of experimental rock adrenaline that’s as chaotic as it is catchy, blending an alt-rock flair with glitch pop elements, while the latter slows the pulse just enough to deliver one of the most contemplative and aching cuts of the entire album.
The record thrives on contrast—between reckless abandon and crushing introspection, neon-lit chaos and dimly lit heartbreak. The acoustic guitar-driven number “ADELINE (SAVE SOME FOR THE REST OF US)” harrows of heartbreak, whereas “CITY NEVER SLEEPS” pulses with the restless electricity of late-night excess, and while “HEART AWAY” embraces a darker, club-ready swagger with riffs and a catchy chorus that feels tailor-made for sweaty nights on the dance floor.
Collaboration plays a role in pushing the band further outside of their comfort zone. The raucous and infectious track “SEX APPEAL” turns sensuality into something explosive and unhinged, while still carrying a deeper weight about coping and self-discovery under its surface sheen. Additionally, the song's music video features an appearance by fellow singer-songwriter Royal & the Serpent.
Even amid the album's chaos, the band makes room for deeply personal storytelling. “DADDY DON’T CRY” and “HOW COULD I FORGET” strip back some of the bravado, revealing vulnerability at the core of their larger-than-life energy, which doesn't entirely leave the sound of the former of these two particular tracks.
Everything culminates with the tender title track, “WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO?”—a yearning, bittersweet closer that captures the full scope of the album’s themes: unrequited love, the irony of vices, and the eternal chase for joy and fulfillment. It’s both an exclamation mark and a question mark, leaving listeners with the same unsettled hunger that fuels the band.
With their debut record, Beauty School Dropout prove that they’re not just chasing rock revivalism—they’re reinventing it for a generation that craves both chaos and catharsis. Their sound is equally at home on massive festival stages and in sweaty, overcrowded clubs, making them one of the most exciting young acts to watch. There is no question that WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO? is more than just a debut—it’s a manifesto: loud, messy, honest, and above all, extremely alive.
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