Pop-punk isn’t dead and Los Angeles duo Girlfriends are here to prove it! Performers Travis Mills and Nick Gross are the creative forces behindGirlfriends, a rock-pop and pop-punk revival that will take you back to the mid 00’s with a fresh twist. Their self-titled debut album is high on energy, emotion, and unrestrained defiance.
Spanning 36 minutes, Girlfriends is the right amount of explosiveness and upbeat melodies that will take listeners on an electrifying 14-track ride. The opening track “The First Time” is about the up and downs of a relationship that seems to be going nowhere fast. “When I’m with you it doesn’t hurt so bad” makes for a catchy chorus and a great opener.
Track “Farewell” is the pop-punk version of a ballad and it’s all about the bitter aftertaste that lingers on after a relationship goes sour. Lyrics such as “am I hard to love or do I love too hard / am I too far gone or did I go too far” is a clever play on words that display the genius of the West Coast based partners.
Next on the track list is “Stay Awhile” an upbeat song that explores that feeling of uncertainty when you don’t know where a relationship might go. The track ends on a hopeful note, singing, “if I told you that I loved you, can you promise me you’ll stay”. “California” comes in immediately after and sets the mood of the record. It’s intense, dark, and heartfelt. The chorus “California looks good on ya, but it made a mess of me” talks about a toxic lifestyle that they wish to escape.
With “Eyes Wide Shut”, Girlfriends explores denial. Powerful guitars and a steady drum line create the perfect background for this daydream of a song that is all about not letting go of a past lover and thinking about them all the time.
With “Jessica” comes the climax of the album. The sixth track on the album is fierce, full of unhealthy longing for that person who got away. It portrays how love might turn into obsession as they sing, “all I think about is who is next to ya / I always thought that I was gonna marry ya / I don’t wanna be the one that’s sharing ya”. It’s a memorable track and one that is sure to make pop-punk fans hum along.
The next half of the album kicks in with “Up All Night”, an energetic song about putting yourself first and running from demanding relationships. “Over My Head” is an aggressive anthem about two people who keep hurting each other. It makes use of distorted vocals and features alternative rock legend Bert McCracken, vocalist of The Used, to achieve an explosive sound full of the best of the alternative and pop-punk genre.
“Where were you” is a brisk track that counts with guest vocals of Travis Barker, best known for being drummer to pop-punk Blink-182. “Wicked Games” and “Sugar On Her Lips” turn the intensity down but only a little, as the duo goes on to talk about how certain addictive relationships are doomed to cause pain in the end.
Nearing the end of the album, “2 AM” brings a cheerful note to the project. This track counts with the guest vocals of indie dark-pop singer and songwriter DeathbyRomy, who joins Girlfriends to create a feel-good tune about falling in love and feeling safe in the arms of a lover.
“Right Place, Wrong Time” goes back to tell a story of vices and a way of living that can’t go on for too long. Singing “the models are all heroin / plastic like a mannequin / fame is never permanent”, Girlfriends make it clear that they’re not afraid to tell on the scene they’re a part of. The album closes with “We’re all Fucked Up”, an anthem for every single person out there who feels their life lacks direction.
By no means are the pair new to music and it shows. Girlfriends’ debut album is everything pop-punk fans are looking for: delirious tunes, impassioned lyrics, and impetuous vocals.
Stream Girlfriend’s self-titled debut album if you haven’t yet and tell us what you think in the comment section below!
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