Peach Pit has just released their sophomore album You and Your Friends. An album that’s perfect for your evening chill sessions, with upbeat and lively bubblegum pop tunes (with quirky flavors like shoegaze and dream pop) that you can leave on and enjoy in the background. Lean a little bit closer however, and this collection cuts deep. Like the title, it serves as a tribute to you and your friends. Filled with vignettes and scenes of growing up, we relive moments of heartache, angst and loneliness topped with lighthearted melodies and catchy tunes.
Where other bands from similar indie genres favor a dark and dreary atmosphere, Peach Pit flavors their mix with melodic guitar riffs, danceable grooves and easy to follow song structures. Its subject matter dives into the more nuanced aspects of relationships. Each song resembles a personalized snapshot of a character’s life, with break-ups standing out as the prevailing subject.
“Black Licorice” is filled with catchy guitar riffs that are sweet and simple, contrasted by a metaphor of being an unwanted piece of candy. “All the people that I know / Would rather leave me in the bowl”. Somehow managing to spin self-depreciation into a fun and engaging song.
“Figure 8” revolves around its clever use of metaphor, stuck inside a relationship tug-of-war where the other party is ready to move on while you’re stuck in a standstill of addiction. She comes in and out of view, until you hopelessly “Watch her skate away”. Reminiscent of 90’s alt pop, it hits deeper the more you listen to it.
“Brian’s movie” feels like it came straight out of a romantic comedy soundtrack. But instead of being the main character, you’re the best friend watching as the leads hit it off – leaving you alone to awkwardly enjoy your beer. The melody is light and somber as it mourns the loss of your best bud, while the novelty of the situation gives it a great touch of humor.
The combination of synths and reverb give “Camilla, I’m at Home” an atmosphere of loneliness. It tells a story of a rough breakup, and you’re stuck in a rut and can’t take care of yourself properly. The line “I’m leaning into chocolate / But a vision of it holds me very still / I don’t even think it’s real” suggests that reality has yet to sink in.
“Shampoo bottles” is the tightest written song in the album. Filled with little details that conjure up an image of a house after a break up. Where their stuff is still littered around your house, and you can’t help but miss them as you see the shampoo bottles, chargers, and deodorant left untouched for weeks. The use of imagery can get you sucked in to its world with “Waited long enough that I could never call you / Baby, how fucked is that?” being the most relatable line of the collection.
Peach Pit’s sophomore album is filled with charm and depth that you could listen to while going through a rough breakup or just relaxing on a quarantined night, waiting for your friends to call.