Alvvays ‘ self-titled 2014 album Alvvays Review: a great first album release
Introduction
Alvvays is a Toronto-based indie band created by Molly Rankin and Alec O’Hanley, to which two of their childhood friends, Kerri MacLellan, Brian Murphy, and Phil MacIssac, later joined. Their first album, their self-titled album, Alvvays, was released in 2014. It became a major hit, resulting in the band releasing 2 more albums during their career. The second album, Antisocialites, was released in 2017. Their latest album, Blue Rev, was released in 2022. Their self-titled album would launch their band to stardom, as it became a staple in the indie realm.
The Review: Its actually really, really good!
First, the album starts with Adult Diversion. In the song, you are met with a recurring but catchy guitar riff, followed by Rankin’s monotone but smooth voice. The lyrics describe Rankin observing a commuter on the subway, to which she becomes hyper-fixated on them. Throughout the song, she describes stalking them to their home and, sometimes, hiding from them in fear of being caught. Its reminiscent of horror genre of the stalker observing an unfazed victim in films, to which the songs pays really good hommage to. It is also interesting that we are viewing Rankin’s lyrics in the eyes of the stalker, as well as what goes on in their mind and their fears of getting caught. That said, its an interesting way to showcase the first song in an untimely debut album.
The following track, Archie, Marry Me, follows Rankin longing for her partner to marry her. It follows with a guitar riff, followed by the same riff but in a different tune. The lyrics describe a love struck person wanting to get married hastily. One of the lyrics points this out, “Forget the invitations, floral arrangements and bread makers,” indicating the need to tie the unification without any formal ceremonies. In an interview with The Line of Best Fit, the band describes the song as a dig at those getting married hastily, almost like a Bonnie and Clyde relationship. In essence, the lyrics follows a lovesick, or naïve, lover who wants to tie the knot so quickly. With that in mind, the lyrics, “Sailing across the Atlantic” could pay an homage to the bands Maritime roots since all of the band members originated in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. While they currently reside in Toronto to involve themselves to the music scene, it is heartfelt to still write about their home with candid humor.
The following track, Ones Who Loves You, it leans more towards a more lo-fi approach in terms of setting up the theme of the track. The song lyrics proceed to describe someone who has abandoned all the people that cared for them, opting out for people who do not reciprocate the caring feeling. Rankin expresses her disdain for that person, expressing that even if they die, she will be unfazed or unbothered. This track features incredibly good vocals from Rankin herself, as well as impeccable musical harmony that is layered with guitars and synths.
Another notable song on the track is called Next of Kin. It describes Rankin losing her lover in the stream, masking something that was supposed to be a good memory as a nightmare. It is an energetic song, despite its macabre lyrics, which makes this song more memorable to listeners. The band is not shy in creating songs that carries morbid topics. In relations to Adult Diversion, this song focuses more on the guilt of losing someone to a preventable tragedy. It also shows an interesting contrast to the way the lyrics protrays its lover in a loving reminiscent way, just to be taken for the worse when it suddenly shifts to the reality of the situation: death. Ultimately, the lyrics precludes the constant guilt of not saving their lover in time, which haunts this song with an energetic beat.
Lastly, one of the more catchy songs, Atop A Cake, explains Rankin not wanting to be married. In the song, she describes not having autonomy with her own ideas and actions as she is forced to think twice about her wants through her significant other. She believes she has been reduced to a pup, rendering her unable to have ideals of her own. This song is a stark 180 degrees to its other matrimonial song Archie, Marry Me. Instead of the naïvety of the singer expressing their urges for matrimonial urges towards their lover, this song is the complete opposite. In it, the song alludes to the lack of autonomy and the ever growing threat of matrimony with a person that controls their mind and body. What is worse, the lyrics reflects that the person actually would like the union, but is barred from feeling happy for this union due to their partners manipulative actions against them. Its a song that has a deeper meaning once you actually read the lyrics, and I definitely recommend listening to it.
One of the more occurring themes in the tracks is the macabre lyrics that are posited in a more upbeat tune for the listener. Whether it is intentional or not, it sets the scene for more realistic musicality hidden within the lyrics and behind the loud and vibrant musicality that this album delivers on. It is a great debut album delivered by the band, and there are more catchy songs that the band has released to the public. Overall, we expect great music to be released to the public, especially with the release of Blue Rev. Overall, the band has reached new heights in popularity, especially in the indie genre realm of music.
Header Picture from Youtube.
