Labels: Good Post Day Records/Through Love Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 11 Apr 2014 (LP)/07 Aug 2013 (Digital)
Tracklist:
1. Spider Monkey
2. Christoffer Robin
3. Poetry Issues
4. Dynamites & Catfights
5. Happy Lacuna
6. Long Time No Bruce
I first became aware of Swedish emo band I Love Your Lifestyle when Dog Knights Productions released their first album We Go Way Back in early 2016, which I subsequently ordered (if you've kept up with my posts over the years, you'll know that I've stayed loyal to that label for several years now and will never stop being so). Anyway, I'm now going right back to start of ILYL's career and the EP that they released in 2014 via a killer quartet of labels including Zegema Beach Records. It was released as an LP (because LPs are sometimes cheaper to produce than 7"s) and it contained a bonus track on the wax version. It still baffles me why bands release bonus tracks that aren't available across all formats, but that's just me I guess. I'm going to be reviewing the six-song digital version without the bonus song.
I Love Your Lifestyle are one of the first bands I’ve featured in this series that are actually still making music. They’re also one of the few bands that hold clean singing in high regard. EP opener ‘Spider Monkey’ is a gloriously melodic song with jangly, catchy guitar work, punchy drums and vocals that cross the line between hook-laden singing and harsher screams. It brings to mind UK band Hidden In Plain View at times, thanks to the multi-vocal approach.
On this clear spring evening, there’s something about ‘Christoffer Robin’ that just seems so perfect. Yes times are hard, but if you can find an ounce of enjoyment right now then you need to hold onto it. This song is that enjoyment for me and I’m not gonna let it go. I’m a sucker for melodic indie/emo and the Swedes seem to do it so well. ‘Poetry Issues’ is way too catchy and poppy to be chalked up as just another emo song and ILYL are way better musicians than many indie bands I’ve heard since forever (I mean, whoever thought The Strokes were any good!). Sue me.
‘Dynamites & Catfights’ is an acoustic song that’s short and so incredibly charming. It shows ILYL’s personality so early on in their career, as if they’re not afraid to be who they are as opposed to who they’re expected to be. That’s the beauty of DIY/underground music. They’re back at their full band best on ‘Happy Lacuna’. It’s raw and emotive without being lo-fi, just like the rest of the record. It’s also over far too quickly, which is a pity because it’s excellent.
The bizarrely titled final song ‘Long Time No Bruce’ (I’m sure there’s a story behind that) is the sort of lovechild that’s born of punk, emo and indie. It’s fantastic and rounds out this debut perfectly. So much so that I’m going to have to dig out all of my ILYL records/EP’s and jam them before the light fades, so I can cling onto whatever brightness is left of the day.
This release has left me feeling so happy and contented. I Love Your Lifestyle are simply brilliant and if you’ve not paid close enough attention to them yet, now would be a good time to do so.
You can stream and purchase the digital version of the record below:-
I Love Your Lifestyle - https://www.facebook.com/ILoveYourLifestyle/
Physical copies are still available from the labels below:-
Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/
Good Past Day Records - https://www.facebook.com/goodpostdayrecords/
Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/ThroughLoveRec/
Unlock Yourself Records - https://www.facebook.com/unlockyourselfrecords/
Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords/
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