Press play on this New album release from L.A. indie rock band before hitching a ride down the coast. PHOTO CREDIT: @tryconditioner
L.A. indie rock band Conditioner released their self-titled debut album last month, perfectly capturing the aura of being young, vulnerable and in love in only 25 minutes.
As a fan of indie artists like Maggie Rogers and Bon Iver, the vibes I received from my first listen of “Conditioner” were anything but unfamiliar, as they aligned perfectly with my music taste.
Starting the album off strong, “Leonora” takes the listener into the minds of band members Aaron Jeffrey Kirkbride and Riley Edward McCluskey. The opening lyrics, “you belong in a museum” are backed by a high-energy beat, which grabbed my attention right off the bat. The whole time I was listening to this song, I wanted to get away from my computer and ride down the coast with my windows down.
With far from basic lyrics like, “you turned hyenas into grinning debutantes,” this song was the perfect opener to drag me into the heart of this album.
The second song, “Terms of Surrender,” starts off with a lighthearted beat before it takes a turn into the depths of the artists’ minds. Released as their third single, the song takes on an unconventional rhythm as a conversation between lovers carries out. On my first listen, it seemed like the singer was debating with his inner conscience over whether or not he can agree to “surrender” himself to love, but I am not sure if that’s what they were trying to convey through the seemingly rhetorical questions asked throughout the song.
Following this, “Til Tomorrow” starts with an upbeat, early 2000s country feel. While listening to the introductory instrumentals, I felt like Kenny Chesney was going to take over and start singing his hit “American Kids.” However, the vocalist of “Conditioner” transformed the vibe with his high-pitch melodies and laid-back lyrics.
Unlike the songs that came before it, “It’s Been Lovely” captured 2021 indie music perfectly. My first thought when this song came on was, “Harry Styles, who?” In just a few lines, “It’s Been Lovely” pulls the listener into what seems to be the unfolding of an unhealthy relationship, allowing the instrumentals to carry the song.
“Ripcord” was the first song on the album to provide me with the rock and roll vibes I expected at the beginning of the album. The song switches in and out of third- and first-person, following the insecurities of someone who feels like an alien in their own body. While listening, I couldn’t help but envision that this song is about one of those girls you see on alternative TikTok, complete with dark eyes, a nose ring and an “everything sucks” attitude.
The sixth song on the album, “Chewing Glass,” is backed with trippy-sounding string instruments and drums, which made me feel like I was in the bathroom at a wild house party. The instrumentals blended perfectly with the dark lyrics, making this song sound like something we’re going to hear in the second season of “Euphoria.”
Taking a complete 180 from the song before, “Hazard” reminded me of something I would hear in a Disney movie. Although I was not catching the rock vibes from this song, the nonrepetitive lyrics, descending beat and the peak of the song made me feel like I was being told a story, complete with background, a conflict and a climax. The long instrumentals and beat drop really drew me in; to put it simply, this song is beautiful.
The final song on the album “Jelly Belly” was my least favorite of the eight, as it moved the album away from the darkness that surrounds love, and ended the album on a heartfelt note. Although this song was my least favorite, it still captured what it’s like to be in love; the type of love that convinces you to call someone else your “jelly belly.”
Just based on my first listen, I can tell that “Conditioner” is the type of band you would hear at a rooftop brunch and immediately fall in love with. Their self-titled album has already been added to my “let’s go for a drive” playlist, and I recommend that you give this underground band a listen for yourself.