LAUNDRY DAY is aging backwards (yet again) on 'Younger Than I Was Before'

LAUNDRY DAY for the cover of Off The Record Zine, Volume 1. Photo by Sloane Johnson, interview by Reegan Johnson.

LAUNDRY DAY has released the second part of their fifth album Younger Than I Was Before, which continues their intense, long-winded rabbit hole that is their discography. The LD universe continues on this album, which has been released in its full and the 26-song tracklist stands at slightly over an hour, with over nine of the songs being skits alone, and making it their longest album to date.

LD is well recognized for their ever-changing sound and their deep connection with their hometown of New York City (to put it simply, they ride for New York), and the combination of both on their latest effort is nothing short of staggering.

At this point in the groups career, the members are ages 20 and 21 and have been solidifying their music careers since they were in early high school, and most people would describe teenagers starting and maintaining a career at such a young age as “promising” or “rising”. However at almost six years later, LD has exceeded those adjectives and has continuously proved to the world that their music is much more than beginner— it’s the real deal.

The first half of the album was released in late June, with standout melodies "Dysmorphia", "My Life", and "We All Gotta Find a Reason" displaying one of LD's under-appreciated strengths, storytelling.

Singer-songwriter Matilda Marigolds appears in both the song and the music video for "My Life" and adds subtlety to the narrative, one that is not seen a lot in music these days. The song weaves three different perspectives together with the overlap of the lead singers in the chorus, and the contrast of Jude Lipkin and Sawyer Nunes with Marigolds makes for an interesting listen. LD is unique in the way that Lipkin and Nunes have always split the microphone and the introduction of a third voice was pretty well balanced.

'Y.N.Y.N.U.N.Y.' is a testament to LD's innovative approach to songwriting. Drawing from their New York background, the band infuses the track with a vibrant energy, cleverly incorporating tongue twisters to showcase their playful lyricism. The accompanying music video, directed, filmed, and edited by LD themselves, brilliantly captures the band's visual creativity. Both "Y.N.Y.N.U.N.Y." and "We All Gotta Find Reason" possess a strong bassline that genuinely empowers the chorus and pushes the song over the line.

"Dysmorphia" is a track that can be deceptive on the surface, yet it is certainly a standout on the album, and it is one where LD takes an empathic and compassionate approach. If you want to go down LD Memory Lane, the stories are comparable to their song "Connect 5"; in the way that it is both relatable and sympathetic. With the way the lyrics are presented in both songs, it feels like a “we see you” moment; as limelight as those conversations can be and the lyricism seems to extend an olive branch in the direction of anyone who can relate. It offers a raspy, sharp guitar in the chorus, the same grungy sound featured on the back half of the album in “Girl From Lingeria”.

After the "Intermission", the album turns the page and unleashes an outpouring of soul on "Crazy Stupid Love". It's songs like that that bring you back to the reality of LD and their persistent dichotomy; such a distinctive and bizarre backbeat that goes into a baffling post-chorus breakdown, and it's undoubtedly one of their top compositions of all time. "Breath" adopts a matter-of-fact tone that ensures the punk rock mood, and the rapid pulse of the drum intertwines with hints of a whirlwind romance, and the primary focus of the lyrics is on a caught-up-in-the-moment lifestyle.

"Push On Thru" is a folky melody that feels like a breath of fresh air, for lack of a better phrase. This is the kind of music you want to listen to when driving through a rural countryside with the windows down. "That's Life" follows, and while it joins the list of many love songs on this album, it is one of the standouts. This is another breathy tune with an orchestral musical background and backing vocals from Savannah Lee Birdsong, Avalon Chadwick, Lionna Romans, and Maya West. The background vocals undoubtedly bring the song together.

The entire album is an emotional experience, one that is supposed to portray a story of love, missing out, and insecurity; "Younger Than I Was Before" hones in on the sensation before the encore. The album's one-off songs, such as "The Bus", "Green Vision," and "Little Chains of Love", are intended largely at the sense of being young and dumb, and they all spiraled into a circle on the second concluding track. "Younger Than I Was Before" bids farewell to a multifaceted and broad experience; both the highs and lows of adolescence. It starts with a strong synth-pop energetic intro before transitioning into a sorrowful attitude deeper in the middle portion and shows that this song at its core is closing the curtains and shutting off the lights.

While numerous songs could be highlighted, the skits that emerge between almost every song are honorable mentions. They are all well-placed and premeditated; the musical accompaniment and dialogue work together to develop the album's plot. Telling stories within stories on this album, the overarching theme is going through the motions of the first day of school and later getting expelled, but the subtle plot lies within the more intimate songs. All of the nuances of the album pair together to tell the stories of the twists and turns of a relationship and end to face the tough reality in “My Shining Star”, where questions of reaching a breaking point start to arise.

This record is a coming-of-age soundtrack that molds to an abundance of situations and the praise and feedback the group is seeing is well deserved.

LAUNDRY DAY is taking their talent show on the road and touring with Neon Trees on their North American Tour. Grab your popcorn during the intermission, this is not a show you want to be a second late for.

If you’re looking for some more insight behind the album, be sure to grab a digital download of LAUNDRY DAY’s cover interview with Off The Record along with 80+ pages of music content.

Younger Than I Was Before is out now.