AOTY #19: Alvvays - Alvvays

The self-titled debut album from Toronto indie/dream-pop band Alvvays wastes no time in laying down their their formula. The first song that hits you on this LP, ‘'Adult Diversion’‘, immediately immerses you in what is Alvvays - a band with a talent for consistently infectious hooks that almost alvvays stick in your head for hours after you're done listening

From there, we jump to ‘'Archie, Marry Me’‘, the lead single and arguably best track on the record. "Archie" has one of the best choruses in recent years, as the charming voice of lead singer Molly Rankin spearheads a track worthy of near infinite repeat. Good luck getting that ’‘heeeeeey heeey maarry mee aaarchiee’‘ line out of your head. However, despite the breathtaking chorus, it's not your typical romantic tale. Rather, it's a slap in the face to society's obsession with marriage and the stereotypical bride's dream wedding

Molly’s transfixing voice smoothly changes pitch throughout the album, most notably on ‘'Party Police’‘ - another standout track with at times gut wrenching vocals:

You don’t have to leave, you could just stay here with me
Forget all the party police, we could find comfort in debaucheryThe way she pitches up ’‘could’‘ on the last rendition of the chorus is packed with such raw emotion, it makes it impossible not to feel something

Marriage pops back up again on ‘'Atop A Cake’‘, perhaps the most feel-good song of the album sonically but if you listen to the lyrics it’s not quite what you expect it to be. The wedding cake allusion implies a storybook ending to ’‘Archie, Marry Me’‘; not the case

Instead, ’‘Atop A Cake’‘ expounds on the marriage criticism by looking at it from the perspective of a 20-something year old just wanting to have fun and keep things simple in regard to not only relationships, but life

If everything you say is true, then why would I disagree?
How can I lose control when you're driving from the backseatIt's indicative of the personalities of the band themselves - a fun-loving group making the most of their youth; singing karaoke, playing Nintendo in their hotel rooms, and having Mario Cart competitions

What you get with Alvvays is a refreshing and diverse approach to indie-pop with various song structure styles displayed throughout the album. There is not one track on this album I can in good faith say is less than enjoyable. I find myself bopping or swaying my head without interval - it’s a deeply addictive affair. Their debut has already sprung their music into a sizable audience; don’t expect it to stop here

(Like you, I too inquired about changing my name to Archie, a rather long process unfortunately...)

- Ryan Alexander

Come back tomorrow for album #18 and follow along with the list here!