Alex Lahey’s debut album ‘I Love You Like A Brother’ revels in its imperfections. In 10 succinctly crafted tracks the Australian newcomer is relatable and brutally honest all while retaining a fair amount of wit, too. A storming debut.
Take the album’s title track in which she addresses her now-repaired relationship with her brother, (“clashed like the band, but we’re now we’re back stronger”) and the spiky opener ‘Every Day’s Weekend’. There’s fun to be had, too. ‘Let’s Call It A Day’ is a belting rock monster in the vein of Weezer and ‘Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder’ has all the hallmarks of what made The Vaccines so damn exciting first time round.
‘I Love You Like A Brother’ frequently confronts those sticky topics – sometimes jovially and others boldly frank – but know this: Lahey’s debut is a confessional, confident and important arrival.
It’ll be a little shocking if this Aussie power pop songwriter Alex Lahey isn’t an indie rock superstar by the time she releases her next LP. On I Love You Like a Brother, from the heart-melting title track to the head-bobbing “Awkward Exchange,” Lahey demonstrates the same perfect balance of radio-ready pop savvy and confessional lyricism that once put Cheap Trick on the map. Not bad for a songwriter who’s still in her early 20s.
The Fat Angel Sings 