Nashville-based alternative-pop band Nightly released their long-awaited debut album titled "night, love you", last night!
The group is made up of cousins Jonathan Capeci and Joey Beretta, alongside drummer Nick Sainato, who borrow heavily from the likes of The 1975, Lauv, and LANY. The album can be described as relatable and borderline ethereal, which brings a unique moodiness and aesthetic to the theme of heartache.
Every songs, with the exception of the final track, was written this year around the start of quarantine. The entire album was recorded in Joey's basement, which adds another level of authenticity and humility.
Let's take a look at the songs from "night, love you."
Track one, "the car", is a the perfect upbeat track to open the album. In the song, it sounds like he is driving away after the girl he loves breaks it off with him. He is holding onto hope that she will take back her cruel words, and eventually take him back as well.
Favorite lyric: If there's any part of you that wants to work it all out
Say the word, and I'll turn the car around
The girl Capeci sings about in "you should probably just hang up" needs to get her priorities straight. She tells the guy that she needs space, but finds a temporary replacement soon afterwards. Things fall through with the second guy and the girl is back to blowing up Capeci's phone, but he wants no part of it.
Favorite lyric: It wasn't me, she just wanted space, yeah
Anyway, she found a replacement
Track three, "(howitfeels)", is a short instrumental interlude. There are not any lyrics, but delivers a that signature synth-pop sound Nightly is known for.
In track four, "not like you", Capeci is confronting his girl about how much she's changed. It's subtle for sure; she looks the same and talks the same, but Capeci can tell there is something going on under the surface. She does not want her to loose herself before she's too far gone. It delivers the same message as Somebody Else by Flora Cash.
Favorite lyric: Say one thing and then just forget
I'll keep playin' it in my head
Looks like you but it's not like you
In "mess in my head", Capeci sings about a past relationship that left him with a screwed-up idea of love. He knows it was the right thing to leave, but still feels a strong connection to her.
Favorite lyric: I know I shouldn't stay
But I still need you somehow
"time online" pays homage to hookup culture. The song also has deeper themes of loss, uncertainty, and depression which all cause him to distract himself with girls on dating apps. It reminds me of Online Love by Conan Gray.
Favorite lyric: I pretend that I like it
Making small talk about the climate
Can tell she's been wondering all night
If I'm alright
"whiskey" is a 22 second voice memo which explains itself pretty clearly.
The lyrics: I'm drinkin' whiskey when she's not with me
I'll take a sip and then I'll take another one
But that's the problem
Uh, that's all I got.
Track eight, "summer", is about a summer fling he remembers fondly. With no rules or responsibilities, he misses the memories made with this girl.
Favorite lyric: Your hands in my sweatshirt when I think of summer
I think of you
The boys move in a different direction in "older". He wonders what would have happened if he never left his hometown for the band. Would he have a wife? A 9 to 5 job? Would he still go to church? He's a mess, but he is holding on to hope.
Favorite lyric: So don't let it all weigh down on your shoulders
Things will work out the way they're supposed to
It's just part of getting older
"turnpike" is a the third short interlude, transitioning into the final three tracks.
The girl mentioned in "so sly" did some serious damage to Capeci. He says this girl deteriorated his mental health, and he is done playing her games. I do not know if the girl cheated on him, gaslit him, or whatever else, but I am heavily reminded of Bad Blood by Taylor Swift.
Favorite lyric: I'm over you, you bled me out
You manipulate the things I felt
"lose a friend" addresses the biggest fear that comes with leaving the friendzone with a good friend. They were best friends, dated, broke up, and now what? He wonders whether he should have left well enough alone to preserve the friendship he yearns to have back.
Favorite lyric: We've been everything and nothing to each other
God knows we got history
Track 13, "the movies", sound like the climax of a teen coming-of-age film. He misses the girl who made him feel young and free, and he sounds a little obsessed with her.
Favorite lyric: What if it's wrong, baby, what if it's right?
What if it's love, baby, give it a try
"I got so much to tell you" is an excellent final track. The song is about meeting someone new, but the stage in between defining the relationship and being exclusive to one another, He's scared to ask her for more, because he does not know if she feels the same way. The instrumentals are euphoric and works so well as the album's conclusion.
Favorite lyric: Buzzing with the streetlight echo
Tell me all the things you fear
Stream "night, love you" here!
