The Lovers’ three-year hiatus left them plenty of time to produce a transformative record–and that is exactly what they did. As phenomenal as their first album and EP were, Waiting to Spill stands out lightyears ahead, showing us what the band is truly capable of. 

While the Utah natives are known for delivering lighthearted catchy hits like Kilby Girl and Maple Syrup, this new compilation of songs is proof they can take on more than their typical indie-rock territory. Solely from the opening track, Silhouette–an unconventional mostly-instrumental symphony of car alarms, highway noise, and hardcore drums–it’s clear this record is a different beast.

The album presents an intricate collection of songs, bleeding into the lines of folk, jazz, early grunge, and all the gray areas within. From the raw and gritty industrial sound in Growing/Dying to the dreamy, rose-colored piano melodies in Words I Used, the band has shown they are willing to take risks and can succeed in doing so. One of my personal favorites, Snowbank Blues, has a timeless way of storytelling through a folky lens, revealing the melancholy side of becoming famous and living life on the road. Between the heavy guitar and sweet soulful whistling, the song plays around with contrast. That being said, each and every song uses these polar-opposite effects. The variation in sound is what allows you to keep listening to this album for hours on end. Just like the lyrics tell stories of ups and downs, each song moves up and down. From booming crescendos to quick changes in tempo, or the back and forth of Harmon’s roaring voice to a fleeting whisper, these songs are anything but monotonous.

Known for writing around familiar teenage themes, the Lovers have always managed to resonate strongly with their audience. A consistent idea for the band is nostalgia. Aside from the fact this album is something you want to play on a rainy day wrapped up in a wool blanket, the songs themselves are warm and fuzzy, evoking deep-rooted emotions stemming from the past. Listening to them is like finding a dusty album of film photos in your attic, torn and brown around the edges. This album has a different feel to it as it introduces a juxtaposition between growing up and looking back. This notion of being stuck between the past and the future gives way to the overarching theme on the album and what it’s named after: waiting. “Waiting to Spill” (a line delicately chosen from the last verse of final track Viciously Lonely), is all about this paradox of growing up, wanting to move faster and slower at the same time. The word “wait” is continuously woven throughout the lyrics in each song, giving them a common thread along with the evident frustration and pain that was not necessarily present in their earlier work. The continuity throughout each song both lyrically and musically–without being repetitive–is as impressive as it is beautiful, showing a newfound sense of maturity for the young adults.

This record sets itself apart, not only for its unique sound, but because of how raw and genuine it is from start to finish. Harmon says it himself in the fifth track: “I can’t lie when I sing / Some things are better left sung”. Along with KJ Ward on bass, Juice Welch on drums, and Jonas Swanson with more textured layers of guitar and vocals, the honesty in their music is palpable. Plus, the minimal-sounding production by David Greenbaum (6x Grammy Winner who’s worked with Beck, U2, and others) skillfully preserved their organic sound, giving a less mainstream and more experimental feel. There’s no doubt the quartet is a force to be reckoned with. They’ve embodied the epitome of the album itself: growth.

There’s nothing quite like a late night drive through Salt Lake City listening to the album in its entirety. There’s something special about listening to music in the stomping grounds of the people who created it. For those who have also lived in a house that “sits upon the clouds”, or who have spent a morning in the Aves, or for any other Utah local out there, this album is something we can hold onto a little tighter.