Lizzy McAlpine’s most recent release, Older (and Wiser) won me over before I even listened to it. I cannot emphasize how much I love a good — or bad — pun, and deluxe albums with witty titles are my guilty pleasures (see: guts (spilled) by Olivia Rodrigo and Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale by Tyler, the Creator).
The indie-folk singer-songwriter released her third studio album, Older, in April earlier this year. Intimate, varied and full of lyrics that feel like an emotional gut-punch, this record was an immediate fan favorite. The perfectly-named record represented emotional evolution into adulthood, heavy with universal yet personal themes of guilt, accountability and heartbreak. While many artists have breached these subjects with profound lyrics and melodies, McAlpine masterfully blends the two in a way that is — and there is no other way to put this — smart.
Tracks on Older feel like emotional experiences, weaving together the 25-year-old’s addictive vocals and piercing lyrics to create a story. For example, on “All Falls Down,” she seems to master the art of a palpable build-up to a dramatic crescendo — one that really seems to fall down. This is particularly witty given the song’s narrative about what it’s like to fall apart emotionally, with lyrics like “23 was a panic attack.” McAlpine skillfully mirrors this internal collapse through both the music and lyrics, creating a truly immersive experience.
Similarly, on “Drunk, Running,” she subtly draws parallels between her partner’s alcohol addiction and the feelings of betrayal associated with infidelity through lyrics like “caught you in bed with a Red Bull Vodka.” The songs on Older unfold like a delicate tapestry, with intricate, intelligent patterns of storytelling underlying her undoubtedly incredible vocals. And somehow, the five deluxe tracks on Older (and Wiser) just get better.
The opening track, “Method Acting (demo),” is arguably the most emotionally raw of the five, sounding word-for-word like a real-time breakup conversation as she gut-wrenchingly confronts a romantic partner. The entire song sounds like she’s talking directly to him (“You say you'd rather live unfairly / If it keeps me in your life”) and is more raw, consisting primarily of her vocals and an acoustic guitar.
In my opinion, this rawness just makes the song even more intimate. Something that consistently stood out to me throughout the album, including this track, was the pervasive imagery of violence and turmoil. With lyrics like “I'll try to stop the bleeding with the hands that crucified you,” this song lays bare uncomfortable emotions and ideas. Once again, this shifts the spotlight to McAlpine’s vulnerability and emotional self- awareness.
“Pushing It Down and Praying” is an almost uncomfortably intimate song, in which McAlpine imagines her ex-lover as she sleeps with someone else. Despite my initial aversion to it, this track became a clear stand-out on the record and the perfect choice for a single. Similar to previous releases like “doomsday” on her sophomore album five seconds flat, and “All Falls Down” on Older, this song masterfully builds toward its emotionally heavy moments. As always, McAlpine’s dramatic, upbeat bridges are always worth the wait (which is why I truly feel her best songs are meant to be screamed in empty tunnels during late night drives).
The third song, “Soccer Practice,” opens with emotional whiplash, moving from warm, simple domestic sweetness to heartbreaking reality: “You sing them to sleep, what else do we need? / You're always sober, I'm always sure.” Melancholic, poignant and vocally sharp, this song’s simple lyrics cut straight to the bone. Lines like “I’m waiting for someone who will make me say no to you” display profound emotional depth and showcase McAlpine’s unique ability to convey complex feelings with striking clarity.
The most unique and distinctive part of this song is its outro, which is the chorus reversed. It mirrors “Drunk, Running” on the original album, where she says “say I love you but drink it backwards” and the outro is just the words “I love you” backwards on a loop. On “Soccer Practice,” reversing the chorus could represent McAlpine taking back her words about wanting to say no to the subject of the song, showing how she’ll always go back to him.
“Force of Nature” is on the slower side, and personally, not as memorable of a track. I did love the layers of harmonies since they were very reminiscent of one of my favorite groups of all time, boygenius (which makes perfect sense because the two artists share a producer). For anyone looking for something more raw and vulnerable than the studio version, the live version of this song features more upbeat instrumentals and a powerful climax. I would definitely recommend giving it a listen!
Finally, “Spring into Summer” is a perfect closer to this album, tying up all the tracks about self-reflection, accountability, guilt, blame, love and loss with a ribbon of hope. To me, this is a perfect ending song not just because of its musical strengths, but because it conveys the idea that McAlpine has come to terms with the past and accepted that she will continue returning to her ex-lover. On some levels, I think it’s imperfect and counterintuitive, but isn’t that life? Compared to her other songs with similar themes, this one even seems to have a positive outlook. The outro is a piece of art on its own, light, airy and flowery almost — just like the end of spring when you’re comforted by the idea that summer is near. To me, it represents starting over.
Overall, Older (and Wiser) is well-rounded and shows McAlpine as older — and wiser. It is self-aware with cohesive overarching themes of guilt, blame and wrongdoings and skillfully blends her cutting vocals with profound lyrics. I think it’s a masterful, clever exploration of the complexities of love and loss, revealing her growth as both an artist and a person.
