Review of new concept album: Younger Than I Was Before by Laundry Day. Laundry Day, a indie-pop rock band form NYC has released their 5th studio album Younger Than I Was Before. The new album is a concept album, that many contemporary musicians try to accomplish. Read the review to see if Laundry Day’s new album hits the mark on the idea of a concept album and why you should listen to the album.

Reviews

By Max Nokes / Matthew staff | Edited by Ella Schale

The concept album—an idea that musicians sometimes try to accomplish—can be proof that any artist or band can try to challenge their musical craft and creativity. The idea of the concept album came to be around 1967, when The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, an album that contained an original story that was told throughout the whole album, while having new sounds and recording techniques from The Beatles. Seeing The Beatles experiment with their sound and how they record music, all while still having the ongoing story and theme in every song, surprised fans and critics around the world, cementing the concept album into popular culture.  

A concept album is like a novel. Each song comes together to tell a larger story or explore a central theme. It’s like a journey from start to finish, with each track contributing a chapter to the overall narrative. Since then, we have seen many artists and bands, especially rock bands, experiment with the concept album, and the end result is often regarded as their best work. Green Day’s American Idiot, My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade, The Who’s Tommy, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, and notably Pink Floyd’s discography released from Dark Side Of The Moon to The Wall are all great examples of concept albums found in modern music history.  

Now in 2023, many contemporary artists still release concept albums, and one I think everyone should be checking out is Younger Than I Was Before, the fifth studio album by New York City band Laundry Day. Founded when they were sophomores in high school, Etai Abramovich, Henry Weingartner, Sawyer Nunes, Jude Ciulla, and Henry Pearl (HP for short) make up Laundry Day, an indie-pop band who has been known for their genre-bending production and instrumentation, relatable lyrics, and their overall sense of fun. They’ve been in the major spotlight a few times, one time being an opening act for British pop-rock band, The 1975 in 2019, for their North American leg of the Music for Cars tour. Their song “FRIENDS,” was featured in the hit Netflix show On My Block.”  

Besides having a few hit moments, Laundry Day is still rather small, with a rough average of 297,000 monthly listeners on Spotify only. Ever since 2018 with the release of their first studio album, Trumpet Boy, they have released multiple albums and EPs, each showing their growth as musicians and writers. Fast forward to this past summer, and they have released Younger Than I Was Before (YTIWB), a concept album that contains all the elements of a great Laundry Day record, but also showing that the band is maturing their sound.  

The album was released in two parts, or two acts. The first act, which contains 11 songs, was released on June 30 to go with the end of the school graduation season. The second act was released on Sept. 1 to follow the start of school, which contained the rest of the 15 songs that go with the whole album. The concept of YTIWB follows the five members of the band as they reflect on the memories made while they were in high school in NYC. Moments of love, self-growth, bad grades, finding passions, anxieties, and more of what most students go through in high school are talked about in YTIWB. There are also “skits” throughout the album that help build the atmosphere and overall concept of the album, making the listener feel fully immersed in the lyrics.  

The opening track “Y.K.Y.N.U.N.Y,” is energetic and fun, with Jude’s rapping and vocal performance reminiscent of The Beastie Boys. Other songs like “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Breath,” “We All Gotta Find a Reason,” “My Shining Star,” and “Dysmorphia,” are great songs that sound like earlier Laundry Day albums, like HOMESICK and We Switched Bodies. The songs are a mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation, with great synth and guitar work from Sawyer and Henry, and simple yet flowy drumming and bassing from Etai and HP. “Little Chains of Love,” “My Life,” “Girl From Lingeria,” “Choking Under the Pressure,” “I.M.Y.S.M,” and the title track “Younger Than I Was Before,” are all songs that have grand production, with the band creating a mix of their sound and the musicians who have inspired them and this album like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder.  

The band also takes the time to have quieter moments in the album. Songs like “Push On Thru,” and “That’s Life,” are simple acoustic ballads that allow great vocal performances from Sawyer and Jude, the main singers of the band. To me, the best songs are “Green Vision” and “Bitter.” “Green Vision,” with its enticing percussion, insane vocal production, clear keys and synths, and a funky bass make “Green Vision,” a song that is a mix of soul, funk, and pure pop-rock. “Bitter” is a piano-ballad, reminding me of something that came out of a George Harrison album. Sawyer’s singing here is beautiful and the backing vocals add a level for a spiritual journey. Those vocals, along with a production with strings, layered pianos, and simple yet impactful guitar and drum work make “Bitter” such a powerful and addictive song to listen to. YTIWB is a Laundry Day album with an array of diverse songs, ranging from soul to hard-rock. It’s important to note that the lyrics throughout the album are very personal and relatable. They range from finding your first love, struggling with mental health, the fears of growing up, and so much more, helping the concept and story come to life.  

YTIWB is a concept album that everyone should listen to. The lyrics are some that all of us, either in high school or in college can relate too. The concept of YTIWB is a story of nostalgia and growing up, love and hate, and the challenges and anxieties we face. Each song brings a unique atmosphere for the album, an atmosphere Laundry Day pulls off incredibly well. This album could be a great gateway into Laundry Day’s discography, as certain songs have roots to their earlier work. To me, this album is one of the best 2023 has to offer. So, give Younger Than I Was Before a listen on any streaming platform, and hopefully you will join the little chain of Laundry Day love.