The Aces - ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’ - album review
The Aces - I’ve Loved You For So Long (HIVE)
When The Aces first began to break into the indie music scene all the way back in 2016, the entire industry seemed to be stuck focusing on gender first, music second. Fifteen years after their original formation The Aces have become one of the brightest voices in indie music, using their platform to explore themes of queerness, anxiety, and upbringing – all topics that are familiar to existing listeners and welcome ideas to those who aren’t.
There is a clear difference between this record and the group’s existing releases. I’ve Loved You For So Long immediately carries more complexity, beginning with the opening title track. It oozes with confidence and gives a master class on how to write an indie pop song, presenting listeners with shimmery guitars and a sharp drum beat that wouldn’t sound out of place under a beating sun at your summer festival of choice. It mirrors the feelings of these moments, providing a warmth and familiarity that immediately brings a sense of comfort and eases us into the album with clear and uncomplicated intentions; The Aces want to be stuck in your head for months.
There isn’t a single song on this album that doesn’t have an extremely catchy hook. Whether it's in the form of a witty vocal line, a wailing guitar riff, or a harmonized vocal groove, there is something at every turn that acts as an earworm. Between tracks like Suburban Blues and Girls Make Me Wanna Die, there is an inescapable urge to recreate the album cover. These songs are destined to soundtrack those long drives that quickly become fond memories. Keeping on the theme of extremely catchy music, Always Get This Way has a way of getting even the most stone-faced listener to begin tapping their foot. Quite simply, having a little groove along is unavoidable to the point where it’s almost annoying. But are we annoyed with the song itself, or more at the fact that we could never write something as captivating? It has a way of immediately forcing its way into your head and staying there – a feat that not many artists can master in the same way.
Though The Aces have clearly grown since their last release, there is absolutely no mistaking who you are listening to. Not The Same has the same sound that long-time listeners will no doubt find themselves drawn to. It feels nostalgic, evoking an almost romantic reaction to the sparkly guitar lead. The balance between the electronic and analogue is perfect – the autotune toward the end could quite easily be gaudy and a little cheap but it instead escaltes these feelings of nostalgia by utilizing a sound that has become so synonymous with the genre. It feels like a much more mature version of Volcanic Love, a five-year-old track from their debut album, showing just how much The Aces have grown with the genre and how much more confident they are in their abilities.
Every album has its faux pas; this one comes in the form of certain lyrics that seem as though they’ve been ripped out of preteen group chat. They are witty and could so easily be adapted to something a little bolder, yet they have chosen to take the well-trodden path toward simplicity and modesty. But that is an overarching theme within the 11 tracks of the album. It is so easy to listen to and uncomplicated. This ease doesn’t detract from the fact that The Aces are so much more self-assured with this release. The lyrics we hear are meant to be relatable to the masses, not just to the life experiences of a largely queer female band that could so easily be resentful of an industry that doesn’t appreciate where they have come from and their quest for greatness. They have taken the themes that most listeners can relate to and created a soundtrack for those moments that you find yourself dancing around your kitchen in a pair of socks like the most stereotypical teen movie. Though many see indie pop as an easy genre to challenge, The Aces have begun to push it to its limits with this release. There is no doubt in my mind that they will refine the formula to be able to smash through that barrier with their next release.
Rating: 5/5
