The Lovely Eggs – ‘Eggsistentialism’ album review: a profound exploration of self through fuzzy garage punk
THE SKINNY: With the music world becoming increasingly capitalistic and business-driven, it can often be a struggle to find bands who are truly self-sufficient and wholly devoted to a DIY ethos. Lancaster-based punk duo The Lovely Eggs, however, are a beacon of hope among the stormy seas of the music industry, consistently delivering well-crafted, honest and infectious music free from the prying hands of music industry execs and pushy major labels. Their latest effort, Eggsistentialism, is perhaps their greatest effort to date.
The first full-length release from Holly Ross and David Blackwell since 2020’s I Am Moron, The Lovely Eggs’ new album is clearly the product of some incredibly busy years. Since their last album, the pair have toured extensively, produced an excellent online series, ‘Eggs TV’, and embarked upon a tireless campaign to save the Lancaster Music Co-Op. The influence of all these projects can be heard within the tracklisting of Eggsistentialism, with many tracks detailing the difficulties of keeping a self-sufficient DIY institution like The Lovely Eggs going strong while maintaining mental well-being and juggling an ordinary family life.
Do not let the pun-based title fool you; at multiple points during the album, Ross’ performance is heartfelt and emotionally effective enough to elicit a tear, which is perhaps not something you would expect from a Lovely Eggs record. The final two tracks, in particular, are nothing short of introspective masterpieces that offer an insight into the minds of Ross and Blackwell. Fear not, the distorted guitar tones, driving beats and chaotic soundscapes that the duo are synonymous with are still present on this album, but there are also some hints at an exciting, new direction for the band.
The brilliance of the songwriting and lyricism on this record speaks for itself, but the production work by Dave Fridmann is certainly worthy of commendation, too. As you might expect from the man who worked with the likes of Weezer, Low, MGMT and The Flaming Lips, among countless others, some of the tracks on this record are awash with a kind of retro indie rock atmosphere. These influences combine with the classic Lovely Eggs sound to create something both familiar and endlessly inventive. Eggsistentialism is a ruthlessly authentic and profound album that was certainly worth the four-year wait.
For fans of: Distracting yourself from the monotony of everyday life through car boots sales, online auctions and hipster real ales.
A concluding comment from a Buddhist monk: “Even I cannot comprehend being as introspective and in touch with oneself as The Lovely Eggs, and I’ve never even played a Fender Jaguar.”
Eggsistentialism track-by-track:
Release Date: May 17th | Producer: Dave Fridmann | Label: Egg
‘Intro’: This uncharacteristically orchestral prologue lulls you into a false sense of security before throwing the listener headfirst into the weird and wonderful world of The Lovely Eggs. In isolation, it is pretty unremarkable, but it sets up the next track beautifully. [3/5]
‘Death Grip Kids’: “Shove your funding up your arse”, Holly Ross screams as the duo erupts into a defiant anthem of independence, which will surely become a staple of the Eggs’ live shows. [4/5]
‘Nothing/Everything’: It might be a little early in the tracklisting for a devastating seven-minute blow of existentialism – I guess the album wasn’t named entirely for its pun quality, after all. [4/5]
‘Meeting Friends at Night’: A seemingly inoffensive track which soon gives way to a chaotic menagerie of sound in that classic Lovely Eggs style. More space lasers needed. [3.5/5]
‘People TV’: Lyrically, this is probably the strongest effort from across the album. Ross’s voice is utterly entrancing, leaving you hanging on every word, and my call for more space lasers has been answered with surprising haste. [4.5/5]
‘My Mood Wave’: Retro 1990s-esque indie rock influences with that distinctive Lovely Eggs touch. An excellent track for summer days and sunset road trips. [3.5/5]
‘I Don’t Fucking Know What I’m Gunna Do’: Does what it says on the tin, really. A whistle-stop tour through a frustrated mind that surely most people can relate to. [4/5]
‘Memory Man’: A strangely catchy sci-fi punk epic, which is somewhat ethereal and psychedelic but with the added influence of driving distortion and drums. [4.5/5]
‘Things’: The lyrics of this sound like the ramblings of somebody getting stoned for the first time, but that is by no means a complaint. In contrast to the rest of the record, this song is refreshingly lo-fi, giving the listener a brief window in which to catch their breath. [3.5/5]
‘Echo You’: An unexpected new direction for The Lovely Eggs, forgoing the usual fuzzy garage punk rock in favour of electronic beats and an emphasis on vocal performance. Strangely, it might be one of my new favourite tracks by the duo. [5/5]
‘I Am Gaia’: Detailing the difficulties of devoting your life to DIY music-making and independence while juggling everyday life, this song forms a heartfelt and pretty melancholic end to the record. I did not expect to finish a Lovely Eggs album with tears in my eyes, but here we are. [5/5]
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