Allergen - "Last Year" | New Music

(Cover by Téa McLawhorn)

One of the last objectively good things to happen before everything started collapsing as a result of a global pandemic was the release of Allergen's "Open Letter." The need has never been greater for new music. From the heavens descends "Last Year."

Gentle melancholy has been traded out for stumbling momentum. The song is swept along by the passing of time and plunging drums. Shannon Maroney's lyrics use the changing of the seasons to frame a portrait of continually attempted progress. The tug of war of self-improvement and seemingly inevitable failure feels lived-in yet remains evocative; similar sentiments are given different contexts to match each season (i.e. "It's fall / and I'm falling backwards"). "Last Year" also has one of the most devastating lines I've heard in recent memory — "While learning to swim, you can still drown."

Alongside the vividly emotional lyrics, the track bursts forth with undeniable energy. "Last Year" is the first track to feature Allergen's full lineup and the shift is profound. Double the guitars means double the gauzy tone (which in turn means double the goodness). The band rips a bit more without distracting from the lyrics' potency. Swirling colors come together and refine themselves into a gleaming indie rock song.

"Last Year" was not inspired by our self-imposed exiles, but it takes on extra meaning given our present circumstances. "Two steps forward, one step back." The step back seems like it weighs more than the steps forward; it bears more on your emotional equilibrium since it feels like failure. However, it's easy to lose the fact that a step is still being taken towards feeling and doing better. As every day feels like a step back, there's additional value in the little steps forward, though they threaten to be overwhelmed.

Listen to and/or buy "Last Year" below.

Allergen has also announced the release of their debut EP Honesty Hour. It will be released on May 1st and include "Last Year." Check out the cover art, designed by Maroney.