Album Review: Lauv - 'All For Nothing'
Lauv lays it bare in his highly anticipated, unfiltered second full-length album "All For Nothing".
Singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Lauv is a musical wizard with hypnotising storytelling. Real name Ari Staphrans Leff, Lauv is an electro-pop artist from California who introduced himself to the world with the viral sensational track 'The Other', followed by global breakout hit "I Like Me Better". In 2020 Lauv's Gold-certified debut album '~how I'm feeling~', featuring Pop artists such as Troye Sivan, Alessia Cara and BTS, was released, soaring his career beyond cloud nine. Having reconnected with his inner self and surrendering all control, Lauv has returned with the unfiltered album 'All For Nothing'.
The first song of the track '26' is best described by Lauv himself: "It was a 'What the fuck’ moment". Rewinding to the past with glitchy synth, warped vocals, and a dazzling double-time guitar riff, there is a bite to the track. Recalling his life up till now, Lauv questions whether why he isn't content after he has accomplished what he set out to achieve. Bringing us in close is the second track, 'Stranger', a favourite of mine. With a dark, intense synth crawling under your skin and a running synth line, Lauv admits his anxiety about falling in love after having his heart broken so many times before. Revealing his more vulnerable side, Lauv confesses, "I'm no good at loving you, but I'll try time and time again", showing his passion and honesty about his past downfalls in love.
Embrace your inner child with the shiny, head-bopping 'Kids Are Born Stars'. With shimmering keys and a jumping bass, its youthfulness reminds me of a school disco – one you'd want to relive again, not to forget. Next is the intense and spontaneous track 'Molly in Mexico'. Ready to go, Lauv breaks free from his fears and anxieties and welcomes love again as he sings, "I pushed you to the edge, then you pulled me close, I gave you my heart, never let it go", showing the strength he has found in himself and his new love, leading perfectly into "All 4 Nothing (I'm So In Love)". On a high and the best ride of his life, Lauv admits his love for his girlfriend Sophie Cates, with whom he co-wrote this track. Sweet acoustic guitar follows throughout the track alongside eighties keys as Lauv dedicates this song to their powerful love.
Short but not so sweet is best to describe 'Stay Together'. Lauv's voice skims over a bright repetitive guitar riff and a hip-hop beat as he states his gratefulness that it didn't work out between himself and an old love. Describing their relationship as "trying to crack your heart without a password", Lauv is happy to have moved on. On the other side is the piano-based dancefloor track 'Summer Nights'. Having fallen into the trap of drunk texting an ex, Lauv can't shake off his feelings for her as he wishes to return to the beginning of the relationship before its downfall. An ominous ambience then weighs heavy in the sombre track "Time After Time". An admission of Lauv's toxic relationship with substances that he was aware of its harmful effects, he struggled to break away from its hold, singing, "I've tasted poison from your lips, there's nothing sweeter". Reflecting further, Lauv checks in with the Ari inside of himself in "Hey Ari'. Cheery acoustic guitar accompanies Lauv as he chips at the walls surrounding him. Confessing that he can see right through the pills and the smiles, he leaves nowhere left for Ari to hide as he unveils his discontentment with his life to the world.
'Better Than This' revisits the 80's with ghostly synth as the beat shuffles underneath Lauv's distant and hazy vocals, as the self-doubt creeps in, questioning his combability for the person he is with, feeling she deserves more than what he can provide. Lauv cracks grow larger as his demons in 'Bad Trip' haunt him, making him lose control and his grasp on reality. Struck by the echoing bass and intense kick drum, he struggles to pull himself out of the dark. Crackling electric guitar then introduces 'I (Don't) Have A Problem)'. Dragging along for the ride, its heavy instrumentation and dramatic twists leave a mark as the track intensifies with Lauv's passion. The delicate and piano-led 'First Grade' brings us down to earth. Stripped of the production we've heard from the album; this final track allows Lauv to have one last word with himself. After years of hiding away, Lauv has accepted himself for who he is. Throughout the album, he admits that he isn't perfect however that's how it should be; otherwise, how does a person grow?
'All For Nothing' is beyond what I expected. The album has been a healing process for Lauv and a reflective one for me. This album is your opportunity to take a step back for a moment and to breathe. Lauv wishes for those experiencing the album: "I hope it opens up a vortex to something you haven't felt in a while—a place where you can build yourself up from".
Words by Amy Mealing
