Written by Maria Arroyo
L.A.-based indie/dream-pop band, LANY, shares their latest album, Mama’s Boy out today via Interscope Records. This trio is made possible with bandmates Paul Jason Klein, Charles Leslie “Les” Priest, and Jake Clifford Goss. LANY describes Mama’s Boy as a “sweeping tribute to home, heritage and Americana filled with songs that highlight what’s ‘symbolic of being an American kid’ today.”
After their last tour for their debut album, Malibu Nights, Klein, who is the lead songwriter, lyricist, and producer for the group, got to work to create some new content. Helping bring their vision to life are some of the most talented songwriters in today’s industry including Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, Shane McAnally, Sasha Sloan and King Henry, and even Adele’s co-writer, Dan Wilson!
Their opening song, “you!,” already introduces their incredibly clean and beautiful sound. Everything from the song’s structure to its contour and movement spells out a memorable listen. “Ccowboy In LA” is another beautifully written song with hints of old classic country and pop-country that adds an element of nostalgia.
LANY is able to create a current and modern sound that’s easy to sing and follow along with. The same can be said for their next song “heart won’t let me.” They tell a relatable story in their lyrics, which are paired with vocals that are just full of love and warmth. It’s these kinds of songs that you can follow along on the first listen, that people remember, because they immediately feel tied to the song.
My favorite song off the record is the emotional song “if this is the last time.” This song makes me appreciate all the little moments that I am grateful to have with my loved ones, and it makes me what to hold them closer just a second longer, stay on the phone a minute more, and see them just one more time. The emotional tension and beautifully written song is a 100/10 for me. Another incredible song that I really resonated with is their single “paper.” This becomes an even more intimate staple of the album. And it encases a lot of different feelings and emotions in just 3 minutes. I think they’ll be a lot of people that can listen to this song and really resonate with the meaning behind it, which is also true in their other song “sharing you,” which is another little favorite of mine.
“bad news” has a more modern pop sound to it with the effective use of synths and different sounds. “when you’re drunk” and “anything 4 u” are another pair of songs that speak to their incredible eye for songwriting. They create songs that tell a clear and consistent story that become relatable to the listeners, and use tons of smart songwriting tips and techniques to do it as effectively as possible. The melodic phrasing and contour of these tracks are even better than anticipated, which created for a more interesting listen. Their other song “sad” is similar to the ones I previously discussed, but there’s even more of an effort in experimenting with different techniques to create an even better listen. I think all the songwriters out there can pick these songs apart and find something amazing to take away in their own songwriting.
Winding down to the end of the album, we stumble across my favorite title of this album, and maybe even in general. “(what I wish just one person would say to me)” stands out from the album as it creates an even more intimate experience for the listeners. The song reaches a deeper core, and really gets the wheels turning on the idea behind the title.
Instead of being straightforward and titling the song “happy for you,” it alludes to what the song is actually talking about. They say what they want, without actually saying it, which they executed perfectly. Their closing track “nobody else” brings us back to a state of familiarity with their soft country vibes. Their style and sound are similar, but are still refreshing and beautifully crafted. This becomes nothing short of a beautiful choice for a wonderful album.
LANY demonstrates different power struggles between faith, love, confusion, realization, and contempt. While these topics are pretty common, their music is consistently expressing their attention to details and all of the combined efforts of all of the incredible songwriters involved. It’s like they are expressing something new to listeners, even if they aren’t! Mama’s Boy is truly a songwriters masterpiece, and I am definitely keeping my eyes on these guys!
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