When We Were Friends

the take

Never have I seen a work of art encapsulate the coming-of-age essence as this album did. In their debut album, The Backseat Lovers share deeply personal and painfully relatable tales of navigating love and loss. If I had to use one word to describe this album, I’d say “bittersweet.” It’s knowing that you have to move on while still being unable to shake the pain of losing what you had; accepting that it never could’ve worked out and yet you still want to turn back. Thematically, their songwriting manages to highlight the seemingly mundane details that mean the most to a person going through a breakup. Watch Your Mouth describes the feeling of watching someone you were close with go on without you, scoring a new job and making new friends while leaving their records behind. The scenes live on in your mind as you grapple with the isolation of knowing they’re the only other person that understands. Each track depicts a different scene, pieced together as feelings are worked through and views change. The final track, Sinking Ship, discusses accepting your mistakes and accepting that they should move on without you. Musically, this album seamlessly blends catchy guitar riffs with tasteful drums, creating a dynamic atmosphere that is heavy when it needs to be but relaxed enough to allow space for reflection. Pool House and Dugout are great examples of this, mixing gut-wrenching lyrics with epic instrumental breaks that capture the feelings of heartbreak in a way only music can. Overall, at this time in my life I feel comfortable saying this is my favorite album of all time. It’s the gold standard of maturity in the indie rock genre. It’s helped me through some tough times and to this day I keep coming back to it. It goes without saying I would highly recommend this album to anyone looking to be taken on a wistful, melancholic journey.