LANY, an indie pop band from Los Angeles, released its sophomore album on Friday, and it overflows with emo breakup ballads. LANY, which stands for Los Angeles New York, has a knack for catchy synth-pop production and thoughtful lyrics. The band’s new record shows off its skills by zeroing in on one particular heartbreak.
Throughout the nine-track indie endeavor, lead singer Paul Klein laments losing the love of his life. The record explores the stages of grievance one must face when confronting a life-altering loss:
Denial: “Thick and Thin” expresses Klein’s confusion about how someone who promised forever could pack up and leave so quickly. While in denial, Klein also shines some light on the situation by implying that he strayed from the relationship. The upbeat instrumentals contradict the message of the song, but the band pulls it off. Somehow, the snare drums and inability to comprehend a breakup mesh perfectly on this track.
Guilt: “Taking Me Back” highlights the transition from the denial stage to the guilt stage. In the chorus, Klein begs his former lover to spend the night and says that they can go back to how things were, but he doesn’t seem to believe what he is saying anymore. The track begs the question of if what he did was even that bad, but guilt is buried beneath each bar. Klein’s way of accepting blame is by undermining the situation; this is a theme throughout the album.
Bargaining: “Let Me Know” is Klein’s shameless plea to get what he had back. He declares the sky the limit in what he will do to get her back. He even promises that he will leave anyone new he meets if his lover would ever be willing to take him back.
“If You See Her” is the plan B in the bargaining stage. After Klein’s attempts to patch things up are ignored, he moves on to asking their mutual friends to get involved. He is at his most desperate in this track. Infused with a jazzy sax solo, “If You See Her” is the climax of the album. The reality of losing his lover is sinking in, and this is his last stand of resistance.
Depression: The title track has the softest production on the record, to match the saddest lyrics. Klein drinks his problems and isolates himself as he mourns his loss. “Malibu Nights” is the best song on the record because it is the most genuine. Klein is no longer running from the truth or trying to strike a deal; he is hopeless and willing to admit it.
Acceptance: “I Don’t Want To Love You Anymore” is the final leap for Klein. In this track, he is forced to accept that he has lost the love of his life and that she is not coming back. By turning the tables and pretending that he doesn’t want her anymore, Klein is accepting the situation under false pretenses by feigning control, but at least he has the strength to finally come to terms with the truth.
The art of concept albums is a dying one. Artists are so often intimidated by creating a large, cohesive body of work in the age of six-second attention spans, but LANY takes the challenge in stride. The record is a triumph for the band as a collection of gorgeous, heartfelt songs. The only downfall of the album is that too many of its tracks are almost sonically identical. This is a struggle that many new artists face, before they learn the importance of diversifying their sound.
