Alt-pop sibling trio, Echosmith, have returned with their long-awaited sophomore effort, Lonely Generation. The follow-up to their 2013 debut, Talking Dreams, this new chapter takes the band’s sound and vision to new heights.
Comprised of Sydney Sierota, Noah Sierota, and Graham Sierota, this musical family have always been wise beyond their years, but a lot can happen in seven years and Lonely Generation was definitely worth the wait. If their 2017 Inside A Dream EP had you craving more, you’re in for a real treat!
Released via the band’s label, Echosmith Music – created in 2018 with a deal with Warner/ADA – Lonely Generation takes listeners on an uplifting journey of pain, hope, and love, making it an epic coming-of-age record fans will be raving about throughout the band’s career.
“We are a band, but we’re family first, which is a special and rare gift,” shares Noah. “We get to learn and evolve together. The album is about trying to care for each other, grow, and experience joy and heartache in the internet age. It’s like a diary. You’re meant to hear every instrument being played. We pushed ourselves to try new things and reflect our experiences in a fresh way. From the beginning, our music has been a discovery and continued coming-of-age story. The new record is a completion of that. We’re showing a piece of who we are that we’ve never shown before.”
Opening with title track “Lonely Generation,” the band offers a fresh perspective on social media and smartphone culture while dissecting how it has affected our lives as humans. “It came out of a really interesting conversation about social media and how addicted we are to our phones,” reveals Sydney. “Conceptually, it felt really important. We always have a message in our music. For how connected we are, we end up feeling lonelier. Our generation needs to acknowledge it’s a problem and be more intentional in daily life.”
For all its shimmery goodness, “Diamonds” hides a world of pain within a span of three minutes, but in true Echosmith fashion, there’s always a rainbow light at the end of the tunnel while “Cracked” is a pounding Broods-esque truth bomb fans will be quoting everywhere. “If you want the best of me get to know the hurt I’m hiding / ‘Cause I may be cracked, but least I let the light in.”
“Shut Up and Kiss Me” delves into the pains of waiting for your adorably clueless love interest to pucker up while “Last Forever” is a swoon-worthy love song and constant reminder of when things were just beginning in a relationship. More cuddle anthems ensue with the deliriously sweet acoustic ballad, “Follow You,” written by Sydney for her husband, Cameron Quiseng, for their first wedding dance. I know we’re trying to limit our smartphone use here but if you’re not all heart-eyes emoji after listening to this one, check your pulse.
Album highlight, “Stuck,” offers those struggling within any difficult situation to communicate and keep fighting while “Everyone Cries” takes that notion up a notch to full on tissue-fest in the hopes of saving all those lonely, lost souls out there. OK, yes, I’m crying and so are you. What makes this track even better – besides the fact that it was co-written with the lovely Mozella – is the duet between Sydney and Noah, offering up a raw take on such a prevalent issue that we need to keep talking about.
In case you haven’t noticed, this album goes there emotionally with no apologies. Continuing the mental health conversation, “Scared To Be Alone” is that moment you realize your thoughts can be dangerous and you need a trusted soul to hold your hand while you’re moving through the darkness. Sometimes we tend to isolate during dark periods. It’s important to find someone to talk us down and help us see that there is no shame in asking for help despite any stigma we may have faced.
That classic ‘80s-inspired Echosmith vibe is still alive and well on this record. In fact, it has blossomed; as shown in “Lost Somebody” and “Love You Better.” Album closer, “I Don’t Wanna Lose My Love,” however, enters a whole new dimension, reminiscent of Broods meets Fleurie in a blissful, dream-like state of contentedness, gratitude, and awe – something fans will often feel at the mere thought of listening to any Echosmith record.
Overall, Lonely Generation is a brilliant take on who we are as a society with hope for transformation and grace. It’s a hand to hold; a companion on your darkest days. It’s that euphoric feeling in knowing that we don’t have to have it all figured out, and that dancing amid these issues won’t make them worse but only makes things easier to figure out. Everyone needs an album like this. So go ahead. Dance. Let the light in.
