Lullabies From The Lightning Tree is a well-rounded coming-of-age record from Sad Boys Club
"Lullabies From The Lightning Tree"
First stepping onto the scene in 2017, four-piece Sad Boys Club soon became known as one of indie’s most exciting new acts, and their first full-length, Lullabies From The Lightning Tree, delivers on those credentials.
The euphoric choruses the band exhibited on previous releases remain a focal point here. Tracks like the indie-drenched “To Heal Without a Scar (Is a Waste of a Good Wound)” – possibly the album’s standout moment – and “Something Else” – a song of cathartic bliss – are key examples of this and add to the record’s overall sense of cohesion.
Similarly cohesive is the album’s thematic approach. Several tracks tell a story of self-examination, with the first side of the record showcasing a dark and emotionally complex side of frontman Jacob Wheldon, who examines the difficulty of finding one’s place in the world.
“Delicious” (“I don’t understand, I never saw things turning out this way.”) and "The Cracking Song” (“Don’t let the day slip through your fingers.”), which both communicate Wheldon’s pensive nostalgia and feelings of yearning as he moved into his late 20s, do this most effectively.
The LP’s second side continues its pensive journey but comes to accept the short lifespan of youth. The aforementioned “Something Else” for example, sees the analytical Wheldon at peace with the past and brings the album full circle in its existential interrogation.
While big choruses appear on most tracks, the album isn’t a tedious affair. Acting as a showpiece of the band’s dexterity, we see the band moulding their naughties inspirations into fresh and full-bodied soundscapes. From the bright feel-good anthem, “(You’re) All I Ever Want To Do” to the heavy rock riffs of “Coffee Shop” and “The Cracking Song”, through to the quieter “Cemetery Song, 20/5” and “Lumoflove” the tracks consolidate the group’s multifaceted approach, and put the record in the mid-ground between multiple genres.
The instrumentation makes Lullabies From The Lightning Tree’s message applicable to the masses, while its lyricism creates a reassuring atmosphere; one that promotes the unpacking of emotional baggage and the importance of self-acceptance. It’s a well-rounded coming-of-age record from a band who have proven themselves worthy of the excitement that surrounds them.
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