Lizzy McAlpine - Older (and Wiser)
by Macy hill
Comprised of 19 songs, about half of which are penned solely by the 25-year-old, Older (and Wiser) is Lizzy McAlpine’s first deluxe album release as a signed member of RCA Records. Her previous albums, Give Me A Minute and five seconds flat, established the singer as an indie and folk-influenced artist, and McAlpine’s most recent record cements these labels. The deluxe album, which she gifted fans this fall, features songs composed of soft vocal harmonies and delicate instrumentals that precede grand musical breaks, symbolizing the tumultuous nature of toxic relationships. While many tracks follow a similar pattern of melodic development, this repetitiveness may be symbolic of the repeating cycle of disaster that can define some connections, making the album cohesive. Older (and Wiser) dedicates itself to exploring the complexities of romantic relationships that either stunt or encourage emotional growth. While it is certainly not a “happy” album, it provides comfort and understanding that can only emerge from raw, honest vulnerability, signifying its excellence.
The opening and closing tracks of the original album, Older, detail the overwhelming loneliness that can emerge from isolation. The record begins with “The Elevator,” a song whose title is an analogy for the all-consuming type of love that blinds partners from everything outside of each other. As an elevator shuts people into a metal box where they are left with no outside view, some partners bring the same possessiveness that can render their significant other helpless. “The Elevator” is a song that builds from mellow lyrics to a crescendo of drums and guitar that warn of the intense story about to be explored. Almost as soon as it starts, the song bluntly ends in under two minutes, naively launching listeners headfirst into the album. The album closes with “Vortex,” another image that parallels the chaotic romance this album depicts. Lizzy McAlpine equates her breakup to “spinning out of a vortex,” where she is left disordered, explaining the unfamiliarity she feels with herself afterward when she says, “I don’t remember who we are.” Emotions build in the bridge, traveling from anger to confusion, in notes that grow into a belt and then back into a whisper. “Vortex” has a similar composition to “The Elevator,” closing the album in the same fashion as it starts. Yet, the roaring outro feels hopeful this time, forging a path for more insights in the bonus tracks.
Older (and Wiser) continuously references the paralyzing fear of leaving an emotionally distressing situation. On one of my personal favorites from the album, “Staying,” McAlpine lacks the courage to leave her partner and expresses, “hold me until I find the nerve” and “hold me until someone sends me a sign.” The song comes to life when deep, steady drums and layered guitar join the track before the bridge, but the real magic is found in the last word of the song where Lizzy belts progressively higher notes that lead to a smooth vocal run. The run comes nearly two minutes into the song, but McAlpine’s velvety tone and precise vocal control is worth waiting any amount of time for.
Sweet melodies make up most of this project, but a few tracks diverge with an eerie energy. “You Forced Me To” features mysterious instrumentals and abrupt, simple notes crooned in the chorus that set a dark tone. McAlpine sings, “I am not the same as when you met me / I have changed because you forced me to.” This track’s arrangement evokes a puppet-like image of Lizzy being controlled by her partner, only a shell of her former self. On the chilling song titled “Broken Glass,” the facade of a blissful relationship has been shattered and the sharp pieces are now ammunition for a couple to hold against each other. Lizzy McAlpine sings with gut-wrenching truthfulness, “I might seem like I love you / But I just don’t want to be alone,” admitting responsibility for the toxicity of her relationship.
The album also projects a theme of pessimistic anticipation. The song “Come Down Soon” revolves around the assumption that the enjoyable start of a connection will undoubtedly turn sour. The verses of the song detail a budding romance, but in the chorus McAlpine sings, “Nothing this good ever lasts this long for me.” As one of the album’s more upbeat songs, the cynical lyrics juxtapose the mood of the song. The deluxe track “Soccer Practice” paints the picture of a wholesome, stable future centered around a couple that equally contributes to their family, one parent focusing on picking up their children from soccer practice while the other shops for groceries. The lyrics are accompanied by a sharp, harmonious guitar-picking pattern and scattered piano melodies that grow fuller as the song progresses. McAlpine is skeptical of the future she imagines, saying, “We never could’ve done it.” That McAlpine can picture this future with her partner so clearly, but also so surely deny it, is what makes “Soccer Practice” such a tragic ballad.
The deluxe record’s final track “Spring Into Summer” describes Lizzy’s personal growth through the passing seasons. It is the thesis of the album, bringing listeners on a journey from the start of her relationship to the aftermath when the couple has broken up. McAlpine expresses regret, singing, “If I could jump into the past, I’d only change one thing/ I’d never hurt you first, I’d never let you leave.” The song seems more positive as if McAlpine looks back on the relationship with more acceptance that it has ended. Even though she will always pine for her ex-partner, she acknowledges that she should move on. The song reaches a crescendo in the outro, all of the emotions from the album culminating, and then gradually fades to silence. Just as the loud music softens, the hurt and confusion Lizzy experienced will become less prevalent in her life someday.
Older (and Wiser) is a document of Lizzy McAlpine’s relationship, but also the lesson she learned from it – that she deserves better. The fact that many of the album’s songs convey melancholy and yearning does not discredit this lesson but proves the emotional strength she has gained by moving on. Lizzy’s even tone and thoughtful melodies are mesmerizing, but more variation between the tracks would improve the album. Still, it is one of the best albums released this year as there is meaning in every creative decision with Older (and Wiser). Lizzy McAlpine gives fans years’ worth of emotional intelligence and maturity, safely packaged with poetic lyrics and warm vocals. While slow folk songs do not excite all music lovers, the sheer artistry and overt openness McAlpine leads this record with is worth exploring the genre.