Written by: Megan Langley
Since their formation in 2016, Australian pop-punk band Yours Truly have released two EPs -2017’s “Too Late For Apologies” and 2019’s “Afterglow,” which became one of my favorite releases of last year. Fast forward to 2020, the quartet has dropped a few more singles and is ready to show the world their long-awaited debut LP, titled “Self Care.”
The album starts off strong with “Siamese Souls,” which begins with acoustic guitars before the harder-hitting instrumentation quickly kicks in, instantly bringing so much energy. Captivating vocals come in shortly after, bringing very catchy melodies (especially in the verses and the chorus), and the equally catchy instrumentals stand out quite a bit as they drive the rhythm of this track.
Up next is the first single “Composure,” which also brings passionate instrumentals and vocals, especially in its huge chorus, where those performances are showcased even more. This track is a bit more mid-tempo, as well as another single, “Funeral Home,” and with its catchy composition and meaningful lyrics, it quickly became one of my favorites on the record.
“Together” was a perfect choice for one of the singles, “Vivid Dream” has melodies that only get better and better as the song continues, and both tracks are even more upbeat, and contain some of the biggest and best choruses on the album. “Ghost” and “Glass Houses” both bring a ton of energy as well, shown through the instrumentals, which accompany some very strong vocal performances filled with passion.
There are a couple of tracks on here that slow things down quite a bit. The acoustically driven “Undersize” is simplistic, yet still a very memorable and catchy single, while “Half Of Me” is a lot darker in comparison. The much softer and simpler instrumentation allows the vocals to shine once again on this track, especially during the bridge.
Closing the album out is “Heartsleeve,” where catchy instrumentals help build up the verses and pre-chorus with memorable melodies delivered through another stellar vocal performance. Speaking of which, the vocals bring so much emotion in the heavier bridge and ending, closing out the record on a powerful note.
“Self Care” was one of my most highly-anticipated records for the second half of 2020, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. From the impressive, passion-filled performances to the thoughtful, meaningful lyrics, this album contains all of the aspects of this band’s sound that made me fall in love with this band’s music in the first place, and it’s easily one of my favorite records from this year so far.
You can stream "Self Care" wherever you listen to music, and you can keep up with Yours Truly by following them on Twitter @YoursTruly_Band. You can support the band by picking up a t-shirt or CD on their website.
Have you listened to Yours Truly's "Self Care" yet? What do you think of it? Let us know by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!