LAUNDRYDAY: Left Out to Dry?
This has been on my mind for a while, and it’s time I speak up.
Back in 2018, I discovered a humble Indie Rock song on my Spotify Discover Weekly called “Lavender” by LAUNDRYDAY. This song is powerful, layered, and methodically arranged. I began listening to it frequently, and my appreciation for the tune only increased once I found out that the band was composed of a bunch of teen boys who started their band in their freshman year of high school.
Their musicianship was extremely impressive— the guitar solo mid-way through the song is strong and melodically pleasant. The instrumental breakdown where they croon "if you wanna give me love I can give you love, I can give you love, baby” is enchanting (especially once the layers of sound heighten with the rounds), and the auto-tuned, a cappella soliloquy “if not today, when?” finishes the song in an introspective and impactful manner.
This song kept me company on late night drives, steamy cross-campus walks, and, ironically, during “laundry day” in the dorms Freshman year. I fell in love with this song and the idea of this band, even playing them on a Radiothon One Hit Wonder show in early 2019. Perhaps I’m overthinking this, but Freshman Caroline really valued this song. The rest of the EP was less impressive a less advanced, but that did not change the already cemented high expectations I had for where these boys could go with their musicianship.
It was months later, in my sister’s car, when I noticed she was playing a song by the same band, LAUNDRYDAY. “Harvard” came through the speakers, and I was taken aback by the difference in sound, and I exclaimed, “Hold up….. LAUNDRYDAY?”, went on their Spotify page, shocked. They had released a new album, “HOMESICK”, that I had not listened to, on which “Harvard” was released. Gaining popularity from their recent tour with The 1975, I supposed they sort of switched musical direction?
The song is uplifting and sonically unique in some ways. The high pitched, energized refrain is super fun to sing along to, but overall, I was confused as to why this tune sounded like a teeny-bopping indie boy band song? The vocalists seemed to switch off throughout the song, making it seem even more manufactured— Pop formula energy. The lyrics themselves are very “Big Time Rush” adjacent as well, the song a big middle finger to the people who used to doubt them, a praise of their recent success, a flex, if you will. Lyrics like “Pass me the surfboard, pass me the Grammy’s, pass me the Globe, pass me the Oscars and then some more Grammys”???? Might as well pass me the rest of the low hanging fruit while you’re at it…. GRRRRRR!!!! Why is this so basic! Such a regression of the arts!!
Don’t get me wrong, “Harvard” slaps… it’s one of my guilty pleasures for days, and perhaps I’m a big whopping hypocrite right now!! But it’s the PRINCIPLE of the thing…. What happened to the layers of sound and intricacy that drew me to “Lavender”?
So, I looked into the rest of the album. The art is sick as hell, and some of the songs are nice! They went a more raw yet experimental route with “Camp”, and “Red Roses” is a cute little groovy tune that exudes…. Ross Lynch energy… No offense to Ross.
I appreciate the vocoded vocals that maintain an allegorical consistency throughout the album, and overall it’s a somewhat cohesive work, at least for what it is! Some elements and sounds from the “Light Up Shoes” EP remain, though they definitely took a different turn with this album. It’s not inherently bad, but I can’t help but feel as if they kind of sold out, whichever agency by which they were picked up forcing them to be more palatable, more marketable to the cyber-indie teenaged fan. The melodies are much more simple, the instrumentals kind of diverse yet basic from song to song.
I suppose I’m just sad that their discography is now washed clean of that artistic intricacy that was brought by “Lavender”. My hope is that they are just getting started, that they’ll be able to explore their artistic integrity while they grow, write, and produce. I guess I just needed to chicken scratch this into a tangible medium so I can move on with my life and stop brooding over this disappointing dichotomy. However, if you’d like to join me in my rage, I’ve put the two very starkly contrasting songs in a playlist, titled accordingly. Feel free to listen and let me know if you are hearing what I’m hearing. All love to LAUNDRYDAY though, I will be keeping an ear out for any more lil Rock songs from them. If you need me I’ll be streaming “Lavender”, wallowing in my bedroom.