Sure, you can listen to "Brave Faces Everyone", the sophomore album by LA based Emopunk darlings Spanish Love Songs, and just enjoy the cheerful melodies and the pure energy. But if you manage to do so, you clearly haven't been paying attention, because it's actually hard to miss the desolate mood that is pouring through the lyrics. Singer Dylan Slocum paints a picture of the "Generation Loss" (the title of a song on this record), a generation torn between personal issues like anxiety and broken relationships and societal problems like overpriced rents, police violence and the loss of empathy. And then it actually makes sense that the guitar-driven tunes are so catchy: They contrast the rather bleak outlook on life that many of the songs deal with. Imagine what this record would feel like if Spanish Love Songs sounded like Joy Division. I'm not sure I would listen to them that much. But before you get the wrong impression: "Brave Faces Everyone" is not a record about losing hope. It's a record about finding the strength to carry on under difficult circumstances.The record starts off with the clean guitars of "Routine Pain", but the song then gathers speed an leads to the question "Am I gonna be this down forever?". It seems as Dylan Slocum already knows the answer - in the next song "Self-Destruction (as a sensible career choice)" he spits out a doubting "Yeah Right" right after the line "It won't be this bleak forever". And again you sing along because the song is so powerful and actually leaves you feeling better. Slocum explains: "If you sing something loud enough and long enough, hopefully people are able to find some peace in that."
"Kick" was released ahead of the full album and you can see why: The song about addiction and codependence is one of the best pieces on this record - with the line "Say "keep your head up if you’re not okay" / But not okay is what’s expected" being stuck in your head for forever. Slocum also does a very good job in pointing out what's wrong with our daily routine: "I hate the rhythm of our lives these days/ Staring into dead space/ Shouting at my phone/Ducking in my seat/ Cause someone brought a bag into the movie theatre/ Everyone shrugs at the same time", he sings in "Beachfront Property". These observations are also striking in "Optimism (as a radical life choice)": "Can’t even have my coffee without exploiting someone/ Or making another millionaire a billionaire." Oh the irony of living in a world full of advanced technology and abundant product choices - but not everyone profiting from it in equal shares.
The trenchant lyrics are accompanied by powerful guitars, impelling drums and bass and sparkling keys. Slocum's voice is emotional without being lachrymose. And as I said, there's a spark of hope. In the title track, it says: "And the city turned off the power/So you know it’s dark most of the week/
But if I burn this place down/We’d have some heat/At least I’m seeing things more positively,
Because I swear to god, I’m an optimist." The song ends with the conclusion: "We don’t have to fix everything at once/We were never broken/Life’s just very long/Brave faces everyone."
When Spanish Love Songs released their debut album "Schmaltz" in 2018, they were welcomed with critical acclaim among fans and the music press equally. It's clear as day that this love is here to stay.
"Brave Faces Everyone" will be released on February 7th via Pure Noise Records / Uncle M. You can see the video for "Kick" here: