Although the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter has been making a name for herself over the past two years or so – both through the release of a 2016 EP and the accumulation of experience touring the world with bands like Tegan and Sara – Alex Lahey has just now put out her first studio album in the form of I Love You Like a Brother.
If you’re already familiar with her aforementioned EP, titled B-Grade University and consisting of five satisfying pop-punk-inspired indie rock songs, then I Love You Like a Brother will have little to no surprises in store for you; the guitars are still distorted, the lyrics are still witty, the energy is still high, and the songs are still catchy. In fact, virtually any pick from the 35-minute record’s 10-song tracklist could easily pass as a lead single if the album weren’t so saturated with other great songs.
Because of this – along with the fact that there’s a pretty unwavering, variety-deficient noisy-indie sound throughout – it’s somewhat of a challenge to pick out the standouts. Nevertheless, “Every Day’s the Weekend” (the album’s opener), “Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder,” and “I Haven’t Been Taking Care of Myself” all showcase a substantial talent for writing hooks even more than the record’s other tracks, carrying a certain quality that makes it impossible to resist singing along. Overall, while I Love You Like a Brother might not be the most original or innovative release, it still serves as a great success in terms of what Lahey undoubtedly set out to do in the first place: make catchy, fun indie rock songs.
Recommended If You Like: Courtney Barnett, Verge Collection, Ruby Fields, Dune Rats
Recommended Tracks: 1 (Every Day’s the Weekend), 3 (Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder), 4 (I Haven’t Been Taking Care of Myself)
Do Not Play: None
Written by Sully Dyvad on 10/26/2017