The Backseat Lovers - When We Were Friends
Alternative/Indie Rock – Released January 27, 2019 – 9 songs, 37 mins
ROZ
Follower request is back! This time our request comes in from Matt Brazil and David Clarke, dedicated followers since we started this entire operation up (and absolute legends to boot). Sorry for the wait, guys - let’s not wait any longer.
Sometimes in life and in this case, music, you just want something that’s no frills; something solid, foundational and reflective of its genre. Utah underground indie rock band The Backseat Lovers and their 2019 debut LP When We Were Friends is exactly that - coming in neat, tidy, and with all of the flavors that one expects when listening to a breakthrough band of teenagers that met in line at an open mic show (and are up to their necks in angst and heartbreak, naturally).
Each track tells its own story: the bluesy serenades of Pool House perfectly compliment its awkward, anxiety-riddled lyricism while Intuition has no issue pouring lead singer Josh Harmon’s guts all over the floor. Kilby Girl succeeds it with an absolute ear-worm of a chorus, only for the band to slow the tempo down (and back up again) with the overall acoustic treat that is Dugout. The energy continues to oscillate throughout the entirety of the record, with Maple Syrup stealing the show and Sinking Ship bringing the experience to a simmering close.
When We Were Friends may not be breaking any revolutionary musical boundaries or re-inventing the wheel, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t a solid listen. The four-man operation is run with raw emotion, catchy six-string hooks and all of the indie rock elements that make the genre fun in the first place. The sky’s the limit for this young band and the potential for a breakthrough is at their fingertips. Here’s to hoping that they take advantage of what they have - or could have.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Favourite Song: Maple Syrup
LUNDI
New band. Follower request (shoutout Davey and Braz). 2019’s When We Were Friends by the The Backseat Lovers. Let’s do it.
The Backseat Lovers come with a bit of mystery. When We Were Friends is their only album to date and the band has a limited online presence. Despite not being known to the masses though it’s pretty easy to compare them to a multitude of New Age Alt Rock bands on this album. They’re not quite as stadium built as Kings of Leon or as Californian as Surf Curse. They’re not as pop influenced as Vance Joy or as folky as The Lumineers. Their riffs don’t quite hit like Two Door Cinema Club and they don’t ever match the lyrical smarts of Cage The Elephant. What they are though is a combination of bits and pieces of those bands plus more. When We Were Friends really encompasses many sub genres within alternative rock and it’s composed with cohesion. Many songs leave you with a feeling of familiarity yet understandably different than the track before.
While the styles fluctuate the glue of the album is certainly lead singer Joshua Harmon. His voice has a bit of twang to it and you can feel the emotions in the vocals as he belts the lyrics. He really ties the album together and brings it home while playing double duty on guitar. You can also truly feel the chemistry between fellow songwriter and lead guitarist Jonas Swanson while both the lads are then complimented well by KJ Ward on bass and Juice Welch on drums. Oh and should also probably mention that aside from Jonas (22) they were all teenagers at time of album release. Oh to be musically gifted.
At the end of the day, despite all the good, this is a pretty run of the mill album when considering the big music picture. It’s a higher end one within its genre for sure, but it doesn’t overly innovate or push boundaries. If you’re a fan of Alt or Folk Rock it’s a must listen, but if you’re sick of the same old shit, this one isn’t going to change your tune. It’s a great debut and the arrow is pointing up, now the boys just need to get back in the studio.
When We Were Friends is a cohesive mix of Alt Rock drawing on many popular sub-genres to produce a quality overall album. Driven by stand out vocals from Joshua Harmon, The Backseat Lovers debut hits the mark.
Overall Rating: 7.7/10
Favourite Song: Davy Crochet
REID
Follower request! Friends of TSR, Braz and Dave, introduced us to another new band, The Backseat Lovers. The indie rock foursome from Utah released When We Were Friends in 2019. Information is hard to come by on this group. Adds to the intrigue. One thing is for sure, they look the part.
If the name didn’t give it away, this is a breakup album. They’re always chock full of emotions and this one is no different. Then 18-year-old Joshua Harmon, undeniably the star of the band, shines song after song on vocals. He sings about a relationship he was clearly not ready to end. His emotions are real and you feel it. Leading the way instrumentally are Josh and Jonas on guitar. The strumming acoustic or bluesy effects were a treat.
Although the overall album message is a sad one, it doesn’t feel that way. The songs are catchy and have pace. Even a slower song like Intuition ramps up in the middle. The guys did a great job with the tracklist. Highlights of the album are Watch Your Mouth, Kilby Girl and Maple Syrup.
Standing out amongst the crowd is the next big challenge for The Backseat Lovers. When We Were Friends is quality music but they’re right there with many others in a saturated genre. They’re currently on a Northern American tour, I’m looking forward to hearing what comes next.
When We Were Friends is an easy going, enjoyable listen from start to finish. Hopefully we see something new from them soon. The talent is there to take the next step in a competitive genre. Thanks to Braz and Dave for the request.
Overall Rating – 7.5/10
Favourite Song - Watch Your Mouth