girlfriends Brings More of the Same With “LANDSLIDE”
girlfriends’ new single, “LANDSLIDE,” feels very reminiscent of their previous one, “Shut Up & Kiss Me,” which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn’t bode extremely well for a new album that they have been teasing and gearing up for, setting the expectation of a project that’ll match their previous energy, but be relatively safe in content.
Judging by their last two albums and most recent EP, there is a noticeable evolution of their sound as they’ve opened themselves to more experimentation with additional instruments or alterations. One of their songs off of ‘(e)motion sickness,’ “Maniac,” contains a feature from Lindsey Stirling, a notable violinist, and her inclusion resulted in an intriguing sound that they seemingly backtracked on for their following EP. And while “LANDSLIDE” is similar to their previous single, there is the inclusion of an electric guitar riff that’s been altered to have a more digital, electronic sound that acts as an instrumental interlude. It’s enough of an addition that adds an exciting layer to look forward to on their third album if they’re going to continue with that experimentation. If this song were to be someone’s introduction to their music though, it’s an energetic anthem with enough dynamism that brings to focus the uncertainties of life and how it can crash into you without any expectation or preparation, leaving you with the fallout.
“Life comes at you like a landslide / Knocks you up & down until you’re on the ground with your hands tied / Behind your back & you can’t get out / The good news is I’m bruised but I’m breathing / And I’m here for a damn good reason / It's alright / When life comes at you like a landslide”
As the chorus is written, their main message focuses on the universal truth that everybody, no matter their socioeconomic status, finds themselves having to deal with the unexpected nature of life. Emotionally, there’s no ideal way to prepare for how someone or something can enter your life and change the way you think about things. And while there is some physical value to having a job with a stable career that gives you the necessary tools to anticipate what may come and try to take those away, nothing prepares oneself for how emotionally taxing and revolutionary something can be. And in that regard, their new single is a comforting listen that brings some therapeutic expression to how tragic, unexpected, and exciting life can be.
As the potential lead single off of their forthcoming album, “LANDSLIDE” is a safe, but enticing opener that leaves the listener wanting a little more that’ll hopefully be found on the completed album.
