Violet Grohl Steps Into Her Own Spotlight on Be Sweet to Me

There was never going to be a world where Violet Grohl released music quietly.

Being the daughter of Dave Grohl means every song arrives with expectations attached to it. The easy narrative would be to dismiss Be Sweet to Me as another “nepo baby” rock record trying to recreate the glory days of ‘90s alternative music. Thankfully, the album itself makes that conversation feel smaller than it really is.

Because Be Sweet to Me is actually good.

The record leans hard into fuzzy guitars, cracked emotion, and grimy textures that feel pulled from late-night college radio broadcasts. There are obvious influences throughout the album. You can hear shades of The Breeders, Veruca Salt, PJ Harvey, and even some early shoegaze drifting through tracks like “THUM” and “Applefish.” But the thing that keeps the album from collapsing under the weight of its inspirations is Grohl’s voice. She sounds fully committed to every second of it.

“595” stands out immediately. The track is loud, messy, sarcastic, and catchy in all the right ways. It carries a snarling energy that feels closer to underground punk than polished mainstream rock. Elsewhere, songs like “Cool Buzz” and “Often Others” settle into darker, moodier territory that gives the record a surprisingly cinematic atmosphere.

What makes the album work is that Grohl never sounds like she is trying to imitate her father. If anything, Be Sweet to Me feels intentionally disconnected from arena-rock expectations. The production from Justin Raisen gives the songs a loose and unpredictable quality that fits the material perfectly. Some tracks barely hold themselves together structurally, but that roughness becomes part of the appeal.

The album is not flawless. A few songs drift too close to revivalism and occasionally feel more like mood pieces than fully realized statements. Some listeners will probably wish Grohl pushed herself further stylistically instead of staying within the comfort zone of grunge and indie rock traditions. Even so, the confidence behind the performances keeps the album engaging from start to finish.

At the end of the day, Be Sweet to Me succeeds because it feels genuine. Violet Grohl understands the world she is stepping into, and instead of running from the comparisons, she uses them as fuel. The result is a debut album that sounds lived-in, loud, and emotionally honest.

That is a lot more than most debut records manage to accomplish.