On November 5th, 2021, Vancouver-based indie rock band The Aubreys released their debut album, Karaoke Alone. The duo, made up of Finn Wolfhard and Malcolm Craig, were only 18 and 19 (respectively) at the time of this release. This album is beyond impressive given their age. It’s packed with vulnerable lyrics and dreamy instrumentals that somehow feel both nostalgic and like something you’ve never heard before.
Karaoke Alone tells a story that is simultaneously relatable to all and personal to their unique perspectives. It covers themes of anxiety, grief, uncertainty, and the slew of other complex emotions that come with adolescence. In short, it’s a coming of age record, but upon further analysis, it’s packed full of depth and maturity.
The following is the result of my attempt to write a quick, 400 word breakdown of this Album. As you will soon find, I feel far too passionate about this piece of work to condense my thoughts any further, and it has instead become an absolute monster of an essay. Though it may be my magnum opus…
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Track One: Same as You
I find that the best albums use the first two songs to really set the tone. Karaoke alone is no different. This track works perfectly as a short and sweet intro for the album as a whole before swiftly moving into the more upbeat title track.
Track Two: Karaoke alone
This song feels like a charcuterie board of all the best elements found later on in the album. It has a little bit of everything: Malcolm’s deep vocals, quirky instrumentals, and personal, descriptive lyrics. It’s a great setup for the rest of the album to come. The lyrics to this song depict driving, specifically driving alone. In an interview with Alternative Press, Finn said that this is meant to represent the recurring themes of growing up and finding independence and personal freedom referenced throughout the album.
Track Three: In the ground
To me, this song dives further into the themes of newfound independence that are touched on in the previous track. Finn’s vocals are youthful (almost whiney, some may say) and the lyrics are full of symbolism alluding to the feelings of anxiety and isolation that can pair with the excitement of finding your independence as a young adult.
“Said all of my goodbyes, put my tears in a case. / Wrap my instincts in plastic, be the journey home. Got a book of matches, to strike while I’m home alone / I’m freaking out, ‘cause my young face is starting to frown”
Track Four: Kiss a cross
First of all, I absolutely love the keys in this song! They help to shape this childlike, fantasy feel that is further reinforced by its lyrics. While I can’t seem to make any concrete sense of the meaning behind this song, I still adore the visually descriptive lyrics. Not to mention Finn’s “WHOOP!” leading into the second verse.
Track Five: Resale
This was both the album’s first single and the first song by The Aubreys I ever heard. Because of that, it’ll always have a special place in my heart. That being said, I do feel like this is one of the weaker points in the album as a whole. As a standalone track, I think it’s great. I love the guitar solo after the first chorus, and I would recommend it for anyone looking to get into The Aubreys, but in my opinion, it’s a little basic compared to some of the other songs.
Track Six: I don’t bite
While it’s impossible for me to pick a single favourite song off of this album, I will say every time I hear the opening line to this track, my heart sinks in the best way. There’s just something so devastating about it that I can’t quite place. The lyrics discuss being mistreated in a relationship while feeling unable to speak up for yourself and instead shrinking yourself down to be more palatable.
“How many times did you lie to my face? Soap in my mouth, trying to wash out the taste / Okay my dear, you know I don’t mind, you know I can’t fight, you know I don’t bite.”
In the final repetition of the chorus, the narrative shifts, offering a bittersweet resolution before the song crescendos in a fantastic instrumental outro that sonically marks the end of the first half of this Album.
“Can’t be too honest, but I must. / You know I can fight, you know I can bite.”
The first six songs found on Karaoke Alone could easily exist as a stand-alone EP. In just twenty minutes, we’ve both lyrically and instrumentally ebbed and flowed through the many themes of this album, and the outro to I Don’t Bite feels like a strong conclusion.
In part two of this article, I dive into Karaoke Alone’s latter half and explore how the two sides complement each other so well.