finding it hard to smile – lovelytheband

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 5/5 stars!

lovelytheband’s debut album is a powerful, multifaceted description of post-breakup depression that amplifies its effects, employing heavy amounts of nostalgia and reminiscence.

Nostalgia in music can never go wrong. Most song use this feeling as something analogous to a plot device in their songs: something that allows them to attract listeners through sympathy. Many people a drawn in by this feeling, since nostalgia is a quintessential part of the human condition. Everyone has felt it at some point in their lives, and that’s why it’s such a compelling tool for artists to use: it allows them to touch the most people. But where most go wrong is in the authenticity of this technique. It’s easy for many to fall into the trap of this crowd-pleasing method of songwriting and delivery. In some cases, especially in EDM, this nostalgia can appear superficial, no doubt caused by the artificial instruments used to play the music in the first place. Because neo-alternative music relies heavily on organic sounds but also employs synths, it is a perfect reflection of nostalgia: the physical instruments represent a romantic and rich past, while the electronically-produced sounds show how society has changed, subconsciously creating a want for the real instrument in the listener.

Forcing us to unconsciously tune in to that heart-wrenching feeling of wistfulness, this album presents lovelytheband as a group that is no stranger to breakups. The vividness of imagery apparent in the agony of “maybe, I’m afraid” is only one aspect of the real pain that they show. Each a mix of frustration, disappointment, and reminisce, every one of the songs on this album gives a little more insight on this painstakingly detailed journal of one side of a breakup.

Though finding it hard to smile is a little bit on the lengthy side, all of its 16 songs blend together, congealing into a dreamy collection of images of a lethargic and sad individual. Framing the album as a collection of 16 distinct experiences, lovelytheband conveys the whole spectrum of feelings within depression, from the self-absorbed desire for attention when sulking in “pity party” to a yearning for the past in “coachella.” This leads beautifully to natural contradiction, as in “alone time,” the individual is fed up with having time to himself and wants someone to spend it with again, starkly contrasting the self-indulgent “pity party.” A description of the effects of a bitter argument, the sarcasm of “walk from here” is soon replaced by self-doubt in “stupid mistakes.” The criticism initially held by the individual always translates into heightened self-consciousness later in the album, highlighting an important cliché: learning from your mistakes is a valuable life skill. By building self-conflict in scenarios like these, finding it hard to smile shows growth, as well as puts forth a clear message: everything is a learning experience in life. Culminating in “everything I could never say…to you,” a chill and somber reminder that sometimes the only way to fix things is to let them go, finding it hard to smile leaves the listener with chills and a smile knowing that the individual this album was so invested in got some closure.

Aided by its coherence, this debut album does not feel like one. The tracklist is unique in the idea of its composition, being that each song embodies a different experience and also is delivered flawlessly. Despite it only being in its second year of existence, lovelytheband has already shown a degree of maturity, evident in their breakout hit “broken,” included on this album. Replacing the usual experimentation and unsureness of a debut album with a clean-cut show of who they are, this band has done the impossible: broken into a largely uniform alternative scene with a unique sound. In a similar phenomenon to Portugal the Man earlier in the year, this differentiation from the rest has not only allowed lovelytheband to become popular, but also to produce a succinct and well thought out album.

Altogether, finding it hard to smile is a continuous expression of the ups and downs felt after the end of a relationship. Because each song represents a different aspect of this experience, lovelytheband is able the create an environment that showcases personal growth in a very short time. And with a clear moral that sadness leads to knowledge, it earns itself a spot as part of an elite group of albums that succeed in telling their story effectively. A wondrous adventure saturated with nostalgia, finding it hard to smile gets us excited for what lovelytheband will create next.