Album Review: Lauran Hibberd - 'Girlfriend Material'
Indie pop-princess Lauran Hibberd is back with her sophomore record in told, the bolder, preppier and bubblier older sister of 2022’s “Garageband Superstar”. Fresh from touring Australia with pop-punk legends All Time Low and rock mainstays Mayday Parade, Hibberd’s trajectory over the past year has been nothing short of impressive, and she isn’t stopping there. “girlfriend material”, Hibberd’s latest full-length effort, explores confusion (“i suck at grieving”), sexuality (“mary”) and tongue-in-cheek satire (“2nd prettiest girl (in the world)”) through overt indie-pop, anthemic cuts and gnarly punk-infused intonations.
Opening the record is the moving “i suck at grieving” where Lauran recounts losing her Dad, and the confusion encapsulated by the grieving process (“He left me some money and it hurt my pride// ‘Cause I don’t know how to spend it right”). Despite the sorrow and anguish, the wholly personal cut finds comfort in optimistic drum beats and her staple pop-flair. Following on with the melancholy veins, the Avril Lavigne-esque “jealous” features layered harmonies, and Hibberd confesses she “can’t be by herself”.
“mary” reflects on a double date where Hibberd found herself infatuated with the ‘other guy’s girl” (and yes, it is a true story). Confessing it’s the best track she’s ever written; “mary” sees a complete tonal shift as she channels her inner Olivia Rodrigo pop-prowess and delves into the first revelation of her sexuality through her music - “this has never happened before // where I ditch the guy for the girl next door”. Completely early-noughties in its soundscape, the cut is not too far removed from a preppy Lily Allen or Avril Lavigne number. Jumping a generation back to the “good old days”, “90’s kid” boasts almost spoken-word vocals she nods to the influence of The Spice Girls in her youth as she chants “I know what you really really want”.
At the albums half-way mark, the peak of rock-infused guitar lines is met in the insistent instrumentation of “better than i was before”, before quickly reverting back to melancholy moments in the acoustic dotings of “anti fragile”. Easily one of her most vulnerable tracks to date, the latter of this duo reflects on love being a “battle” and already being broken.
Debuting the track on social media by telling her Mum the narrative behind it (much to her disappointment, because she still “kissed the guy” at the end of the date), “2nd Prettiest Girl” explores feelings of inadequacy at being the back-up option (“And you only asked because Melissa said no // And I was already ready to go”). Despite the underlying heartache and dwindling self-confidence, “2nd prettiest girl (in the world)” boasts conviction while being completely relatable in the most painful and on-the-nose way. Following on, the Wheatus-bass lines of the title track is completed with completely insatiable, punchy guitar lines and infectious lyrics that hark back to debut album tracks such as “Hole In The Head” and “That Was A Joke”.
Closing the record is “not the girl you hope”. The sonic twin of “anti fragile”, delicate guitar lines and lush vocal intonations leave us with one last melancholy offering with Hibberd admitting “I don’t think I’m pretty… I wear baggy clothes but they don’t hide my shitty jokes // I’m not the girl you hope”. Completely vulnerable, “no the girl you hope” reminds us that even the most seemingly bold of performers have insecurities.
In a newfound confidence and laying all of her inner thoughts bare, “girlfriend material” is Lauran Hibberd at her absolute best, and she proves, above all, that you can still rock and have irritable bowel syndrome.
Words by Lana Williams
