Cigarettes After Sex Explore Love, Loss, and Longing in 'X’s'
Photo Cred: Ebru Yildiz
Cigarettes After Sex, the indie band responsible for everyone’s favorite dream pop hits, has returned with their third album, ‘X’s.’ Led by vocalist Greg Gonzalez, the band has built a reputation for ethereal, dreamy music that draws listeners in with its storming soundscapes and personal lyrics. Following their past successes with sensual tracks like “Apocalypse” and “Cry,” Cigarettes After Sex continues to explore themes of love, loss, and longing in their latest offering.
The album opens with “X’s”, setting the tone with a soft guitar introduction that immediately envelops listeners in its intimate atmosphere. Gonzalez’s hazy vocals glide effortlessly over a steady, pulsating bass line alongside lyrics exploring themes of the delicate balance of giving and taking. He sings, “Deep within a three-song kiss/Sweeter than what’s left,” reminiscing on the sweet parts of a relationship that has ended.
Lead single and standout track “Tejano Blue” captures the essence of youthful longing for a genuine connection. The track opens with the lyric, “We wanted to fuck with real love,” juxtaposing raw passion with a longing for authenticity. The dreamy beat, almost hypnotic in its rhythm, draws listeners into Gonzalez’s nostalgic reminiscence of his hometown of El Paso, Texas. The chorus delves into themes of lust and desire, as well as honest love, with lines such as “When you say you want it all/I know you want it all/Baby, take it all from me.”
Followed by “Silver Sable,” the album takes a contemplative turn, exploring the complexities of fading relationships. The track’s shoegaze influences are evident in its melancholic melodies and otherworldly production. Gonzalez’s vocals, airy and pensive, convey his longing as he sings, “Stay with me now/I don’t want to be lonely/Know how you feel by the way that you hold me.” The floating chorus captures the bittersweet essence of trying to hold onto love that is slipping away.
Offering a contrast to the dreamlike nature of the album, “Holding You, Holding Me” introduces a faster pace and rhythmic percussion. The repetitive yet compelling nature of the song’s refrain—“Holding you, holding me/Kissing forever/We’ll fall together”—captures the warmth and beauty of being in a relationship, showcasing Cigarettes After Sex’s uncanny ability to evoke intimacy through their music.
The next track, “Dark Vacay,” dives into heartbreak and post-relationship despair with distressing lyrics and evocative instrumentation. Gonzalez explores coping mechanisms and emotional pain, as seen in lines like “I listen to the last message that you left/Then the voice from the suicide hotline.” This track’s somber tone and heady production create a striking contrast to the album’s more romantic tracks, emphasizing new levels of emotional honesty.
Continuing the exploration of insecurities and relationship fears, “Hot” blends heavenly vocals with graceful instrumentals reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins. By emphasizing minor details like lips tasting like pink lemonade, the band shows that there is romance in everything.
Closing track, “Ambien Slide,” references the drug Ambien used for insomnia and reflects on the fleeting natures of happiness and emotional fulfillment. The track’s upbeat tempo and hazy feel create a sense of urgency amidst introspection as Gonzalez sings of lost happiness and unfulfilled desires with indelible beauty. The repetition of the phrase “You’ll never feel that good again” underscores the album’s overarching theme of lost love, offering a poignant conclusion to the new record.
With haunting beauty and raw vulnerability, Gonzalez’s androgynous vocals and poetic lyricism intertwine personal narratives with universal themes by delving into the complexities of one relationship with profound depth. While maintaining their signature dreamy soundscapes and atmospheric production, Cigarettes After Sex ventures into darker, more thoughtful territory with X’s.