“There’s a war inside my mind / But I’m the only one who fights
And I get lost here every night / I’m just trying to survive”
One of the purest joys as a fan is watching artists grow into their own. Against The Current have long been the internet’s sweethearts, charming us with everything from YouTube covers to their original material to social media. No matter what adventure they’ve taken us on they’ve brought their own joie de vivre to it. The NY trio have been unafraid to experiment with sound and genre, sharing their hearts while they explore what feels right to them. With Past Lives, ATC have found their home.
Their sophomore album is synth-pop with an edge that sparks with electricity. You can hear the band’s heartbeat pulsing in every note, taking you through good times and melancholy without holding back. You’ll get burned by the open flames of sorrow but you’ll also fly high when their hope lifts you up—this ride is a wild one and you’ll be captivated by every second of it. You only have to hit play on “I Like the Way” once to find proof; the pure feeling in this song reminds you how damn well ATC capture those lightning in a bottle moments. The beat will make your heart race and the loved-up lyrics will take you back to those perfect days, burned golden in your memory.
Each song inspires a different state of mind and keeps you guessing. “Voices” shines a light on those dark thoughts in the back of your mind that can build up and become overwhelming. The first step to facing a problem is admitting what’s wrong and “Voices” turns a quiet internal battle into a warcry for reclaiming your identity—set to spunky riffs and a fiery chorus. If that doesn’t get you stomping to the rhythm of your heart, “P.A.T.T.” is your marching orders. “If love is blind, why do we got to be pretty all the time?” vocalist Chrissy Costanza demands, speaking out for anyone who’s ever been told they’re not pretty enough, not good enough, not enough. And gotdamn, do you feel it.
With Past Lives, ATC is more pop, more powerful, and more tangible than ever before. This album revels in admitting everything you’re too afraid to say out loud and it’ll take your breath away every time. When the raw intensity of closing track “Sweet Surrender” hits you’ll get chills. “I take off my armor when you love me harder, I’m alright, I’m alright now…” fades out the album to leave you with the sense that Against The Current are right where they want to be.
Buy it, Stream it, or Skip it?: Buy it and be part of Against The Current’s latest adventure.
