Indie pop artist Lizzy McAlpine, best known for her album “five seconds flat,” released the deluxe version of her album “Older” October 4. Rebranding as “Older (and Wiser),” the extended album spans 19 songs with five bonus tracks.
The first released song from the album was the title track, “Older,” and it claimed the 11th spot on the tracklist. Released as a single on February 13, “Older” visits the idea that time is a recurring thing, especially in relationships. The song portrayed the difficulty of growing up, and the simple piano instrumental crafted a classic nostalgic aura throughout the album.
Her second single from the album, “I Guess” was released on March 13. The song is short and concise, but it invited listeners to contemplate time in the context of love. McAlpine’s lyrics detailed the experience of taking someone home after a date, but not truly connecting with them. She spoke of trying to find love, but it is cut short due to poor timing. She finds that she wishes love was easier. “I Guess” ends with a beautiful chorus of fans at one of her concerts in Toronto, which created a heartfelt outro to the song.
The full album, originally released on April 5, 2024 grappled with the cyclical feeling of a long-term relationship, the hurt caused by it and trying to find love. The album also addressed the difficulty of growing up and coping with grief. The piano and guitar-dominated instrumentals maintained the nostalgia of “Older,” which built on the theme of growing into adulthood.
The tracks “Come Down Soon,” “Like It Tends To Do,” “Movie Star” and “Staying” immersed the audience in the emotions of losing feelings for someone as a relationship becomes too familiar, almost boring. McAlpine’s lyrics depict how the singer stays with someone to avoid the discomfort of the elusive “unknown” without them.
“Drunk, Running,” “Broken Glass” and “You Forced Me To” took the album further and showed McAlpine’s feelings once the relationship fell apart and became destructive. “You Forced Me To” used its instrumentals to emulate haunting circus music, creating an unsettling atmosphere, similar to the uncomfortable character in the relationship.
Similar to “I Guess,” songs “Better Than This” and “Vortex” tackle the difficulties in finding romantic connections. They portrayed losing oneself in trying to find someone, and the attempt to move on after a relationship has ended.
“The Elevator,” “All Falls Down” and “March” expand on “Older” in a reflection on growing up. “The Elevator” opened the album by asking if things can stay the way they are, instead of inevitably changing. “All Falls Down” took an almost comedic approach with jazzy instrumentals. This is meant to assure listeners that McAlpine has no idea what she’s doing in adulthood, and whatever good she has now won’t last long. “March” angled more seriously, and reflected on her parent’s aging rather than her own. She unpacked her father’s death, with a solemn piano in the background.
The first single from the extended album, “Pushing It Down and Praying” followed a similar theme. McAlpine spoke of taking a new lover while still thinking of her old partner. She discovers she is not satisfied with her new love.
The first bonus track, “Method Acting (Demo)” touched on hurting one’s partner, similar to “Drunk, Running,” “Broken Glass” and “You Forced Me To.” It discussed the pain of unintentionally hurting one’s partner and how they can put up with it to stay. The emotion of the acoustic guitar and raw vocals captures the demo-type.
In “Soccer Practice,” McAlpine reflected on missing a partner. She sang of blaming herself for holding onto what could’ve been between them, yet she knows it never would have worked.
“Force of Nature” pulled from similar emotions, as McAlpine asked who she is without her partner. She feels lost without them, even though she assisted in the death of their relationship. She expressed hatred for wondering what could’ve been, but she can’t help herself from reminiscing.
“Spring Into Summer,” the final track, is a neat conclusion to the extended album. It showed how McAlpine reflected on the relationship as a whole, and how she has moved on. She knows she can’t look back, but she would act differently if she could do it over again.
The five bonus tracks added to “Older” wrap up McAlpine’s reflection on a four-year relationship beautifully. Many fans have speculated who the relationship was with but Mcalpine has been tight-lipped about it.
The new tracks, completely cohesive with the original album, add onto the prominent themes and perfectly blend with the instrumental character of “Older.”