Photo by Jack Moran
At long last, The Lazy Eyes’ debut LP has arrived! The ramp up to Songbook has been strong and steady, supported by a series of impeccably produced videos and plenty of press. On some level it’s hard to imagine the final result could live up to the lofty expectations set by the atmospheric levels of fervent anticipation, but The Lazy Eyes have managed to fully deliver on the promise of a modern psych record that nestles itself deeply within familiar genre conventions while also making an undeniably strong case for these scruffy Aussies’ inevitable world takeover.
Songbook compiles tracks previously released on the band’s first two EPs, interspersed with an equal amount of new tracks and arranged neatly into a cozy sequence of pseudo-concept album proportions. It’s easy to forget that half of these tracks have been widely available since 2020, as the full album presentation breathes new life and expanded context into what were essentially vignettes of a much larger production, mere morsels in comparison to the rich buffet The Lazy Eyes had prepared for the full menu.
The majority of Songbook embodies the idyllic, pastel hues of shimmering sunsets and the seductive cerulean of secret tropical coves ringed in powdered sugar beaches and tufts of impossibly perfect palms; effectively channeling the lackadaisical contentment of a Sunday afternoon spent stretched out in the sun, comfortably buzzed on the perfect alchemical dosage of white wine, carefree serenity, and good reefer. But the brightest summer sun casts deep shadows, concealing a lurking menace slinking beneath the undergrowth on the fringes of paradise. The Lazy Eyes leverage that contrast between sun and shade to great effect over the course of Songbook’s runtime, often abruptly shifting tones to keep the proceedings steadfastly anchored and preventing the album from drifting off listlessly into the deep blue sea.
Instrumentally, Songbook is as dense as jungle foliage. Funky basslines get deep into grooves that are often at odds with the sunniness of the surrounding music reinforcing the brilliant dichotomy of light and dark that constantly keeps the listener guessing even when the compositions feel familiar. Recurring guitar themes tie the whole affair together neatly while opening up individual tracks to wider expression, running the gamut from chiming British Invasion tones to colossal stoner rock fuzz outs. Even in the midst of such incredible playing, the percussion work stands out as the real star, defying expectations to power a surprisingly dynamic and energetically beating heart that pulses through the layers of heady production with impressive size and scope.
On some level The Lazy Eyes have positioned Songbook to inarguably stand on the shoulders of giants, and the influence of Innerspeaker-era Tame Impala is readily apparent alongside references ranging from Ty Segall to The Zombies. But where less adept artists would have been content to churn out a facsimile collage of notes and ideas, The Lazy Eyes have mined the sounds of their predecessors for the raw materials necessary to craft a unique alloy that rings true with focused sonic intent and a clear vision for the album’s conceptual structure. This nuanced curation is one of Songbook’s greatest strengths; leveraging the referential power of inherent recognition to make bold statements with the deft application of skillful playing, inventive approaches, and boundless creativity.
Psych rock predominantly falls into one of two persuasions: the interstellar or the introspective. The Lazy Eyes take the latter path, spelunking the psyche to riff on the pleasures and pitfalls of existing as a singular entity among many, read with absolute candor by an unceasing inner monologue. Much of Songbook’s lyrical content concentrates on loneliness not as a sensation in and of itself but as the result of the absence of companionship. Where Kevin Parker found that solitude is bliss, The Lazy Eyes ruminate on the unsettling sensation of separation anxiety that builds in the wake of a departing ex-lover or the quiet vacuum that remains after a boisterous afternoon spent with friends. Framing their narratives around the tentative first steps back into social situations or the realization that a romantic relationship existed nearly entirely in one’s head indicate a level of self awareness and a desire for personal development rather than retreating into the reclusive tendencies of isolationist psych.
Songbook truly is a remarkable record, both surprising and familiar, with plenty to appreciate within the nooks and crannies The Lazy Eyes have built into the experience. A fine candidate for album of the summer.
Songbook is available via Bandcamp. Stream the album on Spotify and follow The Lazy Eyes on Instagram. Catch the band on tour this summer in Australia and the UK, including several dates supporting The Strokes:
APR 29 – Black Bear Lodge
Brisbane, Australia
APR 30 – Solbar
Maroochydore, Australia
MAY 1 – Vinnies Dive Bar
Gold Coast, Australia
MAY 5 – Shy Postie
Wollongong, Australia
MAY 6 – Stag & Hunter
Newcastle, Australia
MAY 7 – Oxford Art Factory
Sydney, Australia
MAY 15 – The Zanzibar
Liverpool, UK
MAY 16 – Headrow House
Leeds, UK
MAY 17 – The Deaf Institute
Manchester, UK
MAY 19 – The Exchange
Bristol, UK
MAY 20– Omeara
London, UK
MAY 22– The Hare & Hounds
Birmingham, UK
JUN 4 – Crown & Anchor
Adelaide, Australia
JUN 5 – Lucy’s Love Shack
Perth, Australia
JUN 6– Mojo’s
Fremantle, Australia
JUN 10 – Carriageworks – Vivid Sydney
Supporting Chai
Sydney, Australia
JUL 15 –Transit Bar
Canberra, Australia
JUL 22,23,24– Splendour In The Grass
Byron Bay, Australia
JUL 26 – John Cain Arena
Supporting The Strokes
Melbourne, Australia
JUL 28 – Hordern Pavillion
Supporting The Strokes
Sydney, Australia
JUL 29 – Hordern Pavillion
Supporting The Strokes
Sydney, Australia
AUG 14 – A More Perfect Union
Hobart, Australia
NOV 5 – Euroa Music Festival
Euroa, Australia
