By Maryjane Perez | 12 July 2023
The Aces are back and better than ever. The all-female group, consisting of Cristal and Alisa Ramirez, Katie Henderson, and McKenna Petty, has developed a solid musical sound and confidence. Their latest album, ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long,’ dives into the intimate aspects of their identities and experiences with glittering instrumentals and energizing hooks.
Kicking off the album with the title track, “I’ve Loved You For So Long,” listeners are immediately met with whimsical chimes and flowy vocals that encapsulate a summer feeling. It is a shimmering confession of love accompanied by dreamy guitar strums. Personally, this track made me fall in love with the album instantly. It left me feeling floaty and light.
The following tracks, “Girls Make Me Wanna Die” and “Always Get This Way,” maintain the summer feeling but in a more rebellious sense. Both offer punchy beats and bouncy melodies. Yes, they delve into heartbreak and hurt—but The Aces turn pain into a danceable relief.
“Solo” stands out sonically from the rest of the tracks on the album, more spacey and hypnotic. Then “Not the Same” takes listeners back to the catchy, pumping beats of the previous tracks.
Halfway through the album comes “Suburban Blues.” The Aces get into their experience growing up in a small town. Anyone who comes from a small town is all too familiar with the tranquil and sometimes dull lifestyle; it can feel suffocating and restless at times. Lyrics like, “They all seem so happy, what am I missin’?” and “‘Cause there’s no way out of this sad town / So get used to suburban blues'' capture the experience perfectly. Being from a small town, I will definitely be streaming this as I drive around my hometown.
“Person” and “Miserable” touch on feelings of unhappiness with sinking lyrics and fast-paced drum beats. Both feature haunting lyrics about being older and still feeling a lack. In “Person” it is presented in the lyrics, “How come at the age of 25 nothing makes me feel alive;” in “Miserable,” “When did life become so dull? / Since when was 25 so old?” It created a conflicting feeling within me as I couldn’t decide whether to focus on the melancholic lyrics or let the instrumentals take over. It’s a perfect representation of how it feels to be overwhelmed by mental health while life keeps buzzing around you.
“Attention” is a breakup song in which the narrator admits to her faults in a way that is honest rather than self-loathing. “Stop Feeling” is a laid-back track laced with synth and low vibrational vocals. These tracks offer a slightly lighter feeling than the previous two, allowing listeners to fall back into a less heavy mindset. The sounds are reminiscent of late summer nights spent driving around.
The closing track, “Younger,” is nostalgic, reflecting back on being younger and wishing for all the changes and self-assurance that should come with being older. It’s a great conclusion to the album, offering the reminder that it takes time to find your footing in the world, you will never have it all figured out, and that’s okay. As someone who tends to get in her head a lot, this is one of my favorite tracks from the album as it gives me reassurance that I will gain more confidence and understanding of myself as I continue to get older.
‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’ beautifully depicts the complex journey through mental health struggles, heartbreak, love, and self-reflection. It’s a perfect summer staple that you will catch yourself humming or singing during all your summertime adventures.
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