Lizzy "Ceilings" McAlpine with a new album called Older, out April 5

 

title track out today

I gotta say I was worried when I saw the list of co-writers and producers on this album, and saw Philip Etherington wasn't on it. He produced nearly every song on her first two albums and it felt like a dream team. In fact what made me pay attention 2 years ago was the bridge in "reckless driving", which was his idea. Willing to accept that this isn't gonna sound like "five seconds flat" (might be my favourite album this decade, not sure, but also haven't listened to much), but this is really good. Glad she's not doing the major label pivot to cashing in on blatant For You page bait. Very curious what the rest of the album is gonna sound like outside of the vague descriptor from ages ago that it's 'sad' lol.

new track I guess

absolutely a gem <3

 

Whole album's been out for a few days now and I'm pretty content. Just generally a very cozy listen with all the arrangements, but letting the songs float in your head as contemplative puzzle pieces. As I've gotten older I've gotten a little more sceptical of the cliche that is teens & young adults writing about a breakup as if it's this shock end-of-the-world it-would-never-happen-to-me kind of moment (I feel like literally everyone I know in my life who's ever had a partner has had more than one by now). I think here it maybe pays that a lot of it comes with years of reflection and self-awareness. The generally sombre tone of it gives off a vibe of 'well, that was a chapter in my life' sprinkled in with the occasional build-up of 'okay but I'm right to be annoyed by that'. Maybe that's wrong too but that's how I look back at a lot of things myself :lol: I love hearing her perspective though because she always comes across as very honest about these things, even in instances where it'll rub people the wrong way. I say this as someone who did initially latch onto the more pop-oriented moments on "five seconds flat" ("erase me", "reckless driving", "doomsday" and "ceilings" are all incredible still), but I do think she has a certain vision to stand out as a songwriter. Hope to see that she can find a space & level of fame to be comfortable in and continue to hone the craft from here.

 

(Oh and just to highlight stuff beyond the singles, "Staying" and "Broken Glass" both find their way into brilliance that just hits the spot for me. My very Australian reference points here are much of Sarah Blasko's discography and also "Colour The Small One" by [redacted]).

it's a pity they didn't synchronize vinyls with the album release, vinyls are out on June 14 :o

Yeah, I was really interested to see how this would chart coming off of 2 years of fanbase growth but that's gonna stunt it big time. Apparently the album was still being mixed a couple of weeks ago so there just wasn't any time to press it.

yes but I don't understand the rush, why the rush to release it on April with no time to even make physicals

makes no sense, wait 2 months for the full synchronized release

She's touring from the end of April onwards, they'll want it out before then. It's only the chart position being compromised though, which most people will never pay attention to.

of course but it's labels that care about chart positions not people

of course but it's labels that care about chart positions not people

Not enough for them to have a combined release date though!

She didn't chart in the UK :/

Must have been pretty close since she was #100 on the mid-weeks and the eventual chart generally flatters streaming-only releases to an extent. Was surprised she made the top 100 in Australia (not far behind The Black Keys & Vampire Weekend who both had CDs/Vinyl), which might have been buffed by the tour announcement on the same week, but hey, second biggest market behind Ireland. Perth show one day I hope :unsure:

Deluxe edition 'Older (and Wiser)' released on Friday! Not had a chance to check out all the new track yet (there are 5 of them), but 'Spring Into Summer' is gorgeous. :wub:

 

she released a track from this a couple weeks ago called Pushing it down and Praying, with a video and all

 

Great to see 'Spring Into Summer' chart in the last couple of weeks, currently at #88!

Love it! and glad it's another (mini) hit for her