Emerging artist Lizzy McAlpine, writer of the hit song ‘Ceilings’, released her third studio album ‘Older’ on Apr. 5. The album consists of 14 songs spanning 45 minutes. ‘Older’ takes a genre shift from her last studio album, ‘Five Seconds Flat,’ from alternative pop to folk. “I’m just entering a new era in my artistry, my career, my life,” McApline said on the Zach Sang Show. “I made this album because it’s just where I’m at and who I am.”
The album focuses on different aspects of love and growing up. Her single ‘Older’, is about a relationship that she was in that was on and off for four years. However, as the song progressed and she grew as a person, the storyline shifted to her fears about her mom getting older. McAlpine sings, “Watch it all pass mom’s getting older, I’m wanting it back.” The theme of loss and heartbreak carries on throughout other songs on the album focusing on the love that was lost after spending four years with her partner. It also highlights the commonly overlooked traumas that people endure in a relationship, as in the song, ‘‘You Forced Me To’, This song can be interpreted in many ways but fits with the rest of the album by how McAlpine shares the struggles of giving too much of yourself to your partner and not recognizing who you are when they leave.
‘Older’ is McAlpine’s first album with her new label, RCA Records. The company was created in 1919 and has produced music for SZA, Pentatonix, Tate McRae, Khalid, A$AP ROCKY, and Elvis Presley. McAlpine signed to RCA Apr. 6, 2023. Having a record deal allows an artist to control marketing and promotion of music, as well as having more profit within the sales. A label also creates better opportunities for sharing music in movies, commercials, and TV shows.
The album takes a more simplistic approach with many songs having lullaby undertones, compared to her past albums that had a more pop approach. The album is being described as a “stripped down version of Five Seconds Flat” (‘Older’ Single Review). The single ‘Older’ has a somber and mature feeling. Since signing to RCA, the production for her songs has improved; allowing McAlpine to play with more layered instruments and vocals.
Before the album was released I made a prediction on what my favorite songs would be; ‘You Forced Me To’, ‘Broken Glass’, and ‘All Falls Down’. After listening to the album, my top three are ‘I Guess’, ‘Vortex’, and ‘Drunk Running’. The songs are definitely slower paced compared to her others, the newer songs don’t have a build like the hit song ‘Ceilings,’ which was a little disappointing. ‘Ceilings’ is known for its bridge where the music is continuously growing, building anticipation. Another disappointment in the album is that each song sounds similar so it can get repetitive. The lack of sound variety and the absence of a big build creates a monotone experience. This is definitely an album to listen to on a rainy day.
As the title suggests, older audiences will be able to connect with the themes of falling out of love and the fears of growing older through the lyrics and melancholy lullaby-inspired sound. Younger audiences might not grasp the foundational meaning of the album but the lyrics are clean and it was extremely moving. I am excited to see McAlpine’s music continue to grow overtime.
