Lizzy McAlpine’s newly-released “five seconds flat” is like sitting outside on a brisk spring morning with a cup of tea, listening to the birds mutter chirps to one another. It beautifully walks the line between ethereal and vulnerable, the lyrics expressing McAlpine’s outright feelings, and the sound is so delicate that it is reminiscent of a summer evening spent catching fireflies as a kid.
The 14-track album was released on April 8. McAlpine, signed to record label AWAL, is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter who previously attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, before leaving to pursue music full-time.
The album begins with “Doomsday,” a song that will leave listeners wondering what playlist to add it to. At times, the song feels sad and slow enough to listen to after a long day, but at others, the anger listeners feel through the lyrics may make them want to add it to their “screaming in the car” playlist. Either way, this track makes listeners want more.
“Called You Again,” the fourth song, beautifully encompasses the complex feelings of regret, allowing listeners to easily relate to the lyrics of the song. Contrastingly, the following track, “All My Ghosts” encapsulates the nostalgic feeling of looking back on beautiful moments with someone who is no longer a part of one’s life.
Track eight, “Ceilings,” is so sorrowful yet so calming that listeners could fall asleep to it if they weren’t so intrigued by McAlpine’s intricate lyricism. Track nine follows this up by picking the beat up slowly; “What a Shame” is a flawless depiction of a love that can never be acted on.
At this point in the album, listeners have followed McAlpine through just about every emotion they can name. But McAlpine has a few more punches packed in the remainder of the album.
“Firearm” starts with bits of seemingly bottled-up anger, hitting listeners with a resentful, clamorous verse right in the middle of the song. The track is followed by “Hate to be Lame” featuring FINNEAS, an Academy Award and Grammy winner. The song magnificently blends the styles of both artists, allowing them to stay true to their own tones while also exploring those of the other.
“Orange Show Speedway,” the final song on the album, truly encompasses the feeling of a summer night. McAlpine brilliantly included voice memos from a voice diary she recorded while listening to fireworks, giving the song a nostalgic break about three-quarters of the way through. The song ends exactly how listeners would hope any album would end — on a quiet, hopeful note.
The album overall is impressive, both lyrically and vocally. The music captures McAlpine’s full vocal range, while the lyrics truly bring listeners on a journey through the multi-dimensional world of human emotions.
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