Singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine, most famous for her song “ceilings”, released her third full length album on Friday, April 5. The album, fittingly titled “Older”, contains 14 heartfelt songs. This is a 45-minute long experience that is bound to leave you crying and wanting more.
In previous interviews, McAlpine has stated that her past music hasn’t felt like her true self, and she is excited to share “Older” with the world, as it feels more authentic and expresses who she is, and her true skill with a pen.
McAlpine’s fans have been highly anticipating this album since she released two single tracks off the album, “Older” and “I Guess”, in early February. Personally, this release has been one of my favorites of the year. Each song has clearly been written with lyrics that are meant to pack a punch, and make your mind work.
After a thorough listen, picking just one favorite song on “Older” is very difficult. If I had to choose, my top three favorites are “All Falls Down”, “Drunk, Running” and “Better Than This”.
“All Falls Down”, track five on the album, opens sounding very upbeat, with horns playing in the background. However, this starkly contrasts the sad lyrics of the song. The production of this song is definitely one of the things that makes it stand out to me on the album.
“Drunk, Running” is one of the slower songs on the album, and I think it helps to round out the listening experience. The production on this track is also out of this world. McAlpine sings the lyrics “Say I love you and then drink it backwards,” and later, the song ends with instruments over the sound of her saying “I love you”, backwards.
Thirdly, her song, “Better Than This”, holds some lyrics that hit me the hardest: “What if I’m not a good person? You always say that I am”. I think that this line encapsulates the album and song as a whole. It provides some insight into love, and how you have to believe that you are a good person, not to rely on someone else to tell you that you are.
The release of “Older” has certainly been a turning point in McAlpine’s career. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she says, “I am still figuring out who I want to be, who I am, what I connect to, and it’s kind of hard to have the old stuff out there. People latch onto it, but it’s not necessarily that true to me even if it probably was at the time. I know that the right people will get the new album, but some people are gonna be disappointed because it doesn’t sound like Five Seconds Flat. This music is the most me that I’ve ever sounded, and I just want to feel understood.”
McAlpine has also decided to make some changes for her upcoming tour like taking a step back from social media and not having openers, so both her and her band can get enough sleep, and for their own mental well being. In the same interview she says, “Yeah, we’re doing a couple shows a week and taking breaks. The way I routed this tour is for me and my fans’ safety, but mostly I’m doing it because I hate touring and I don’t wanna hate it this time. I’m taking the band I made the record with on tour and we’re not playing to any tracks so it’s gonna be completely live.”
It is safe to say that “Older” has solidified McAlpine’s road to success. With a growing fanbase and a nearly sold out tour that kicked off on April 24, she is certainly an artist you should keep your eye on.
Tracklist for Older:
“The Elevator”
“Come Down Soon”
“Like It Tends To Do”
“Movie Star”
“All Falls Down”
“Staying”
“I Guess”
“Drunk, Running”
“Broken Glass”
“You Forced Me To”
“Older”
“Better Than This”
“March”
“Vortex”
