Album Review: Claud - 'Supermodels'
‘Supermodels’ feels like journal entries describing universial experiences that feel so utterly alienating at the time.
July 14th sees Claud releasing their sophomore album ‘Supermodels’, the album is also the first release of 2023 for Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records.
Claud opens their latest album with the track ‘Crumbs.’ The track is distinctly melancholic and lends itself to building a world many of Claud’s listeners may be familiar with, the track tackles the topics of when everything is becoming too much and even the smallest of things can be the catalyst for the way that we are feeling. ‘Crumbs’ feels like a reassurance that it’s okay for us to feel the emotions that we’re feeling and that we’re not alone in it.
The album’s first single ‘Every Fucking Time’ embodies our need for reassurance in a relationship, along with our desire to know that not everything in said relationship is one sided. It feels like an anthem for those stuck in complicated relationships, or even for those who always find themselves in complicated ones. Claud channels Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift in this song to create an image of what relationships so often feature on ore or perhaps even both persons parts; the need to be loved unconditionally.
On the topic of ‘Every Fucking Time’, Claud explained that “Even as I was writing ‘Every Fucking Time’ I had flashes of what I wanted the music video to look like. The song details and specificity came straight from me, so it only felt natural to write and direct the music video too.”
Next up is the track ‘Wet’ and it focuses on the feelings being wronged in a relationship uncovers. The song navigates the complexities of coming to terms with what happened and how our partners sometimes only apologise because that’s what is expected of them even though they may continue with the harmful behaviour after promising they wouldn’t do it again. ‘Wet’ is about recognising we may not be happy with our current relationship, and how often we feel like we must endure it out of loyalty to the other person.
Claud brings ‘Supermodels’ to a close with ‘Screwdriver.’ The track feels like it could capture many of our experiences of growing up, particularly the moments where were never quite felt good enough and compared ourselves to those around us and in the media we consumed. It almost feels like an apology, which is perhaps something we all owe our younger selves.
2023 is set to be a busy year for Claud with the release of their newest album this month, and the summer seeing the supporting Paramore and Le Tigre on tour – before they head out on their own tour later this year in October.
Words by Bethany Ellis
