Older (And Wiser) – Lizzie McAlpine

By Kaitlin Shaw

When Lizzie McAlpine announced that she was releasing an extended version for her album, Older, I couldn’t help but think to myself- what could she have possibly left unsaid? Older was an intimate and vulnerable journey of the unraveling of a relationship- from the first sign of disconnect to the eventual parting of ways. Older (And Wiser) feels like an emotional continuation to the same story— a deep struggle of letting go. Her lyrics express lingering thoughts, regrets, and unfulfilled hopes. And the extension portrays all of this in the most beautiful way. It is clear that Lizzie McAlpine has found her sound, with simple melodies and clean,sparse accompaniments which eventually build toward beautiful orchestral bridges filled with cellos, synths, and intricate guitar melodies. One thing is clear— Lizzie McAlpine has written the perfect album for those who cannot get over anything, ever. 

Lizzie McAlline first released the song ‘Pushing It Down and Praying’ as a single on September 20. When I first listened to it, I was taken aback by the incredibly blunt first lyric: “I’m in bed, laying down, naked / he’s inside of me.” This unfiltered honesty highlighted immediately that there is no softening the raw, intimate details of what was to come with this new extended album. It felt as if I was being pulled directly into her reality, refusing to hide behind a metaphor. It’s a lyrical risk that pays off, forcing the listener to sit in the weight of the moment with her.  The song explores her futile attempt of using physical intimacy to replace what she truly desires. The track explores the emptiness of yearning for a connection that she can’t seem to find with anyone else. She leaves little to the imagination with her hard-hitting line: “When I close my eyes, you replace him.” With a raspy bass and electric guitar joining halfway through, the listener is forced to sit with the gravity of the experience. The constant building and layering throughout  the song keeps you captivated as it mirrors the internal turmoil Lizzie McApline is experiencing. When the music finally becomes calmer again- it leaves with a haunting echo of vulnerability and the yearning for peace. 

The next song on the extended version, ‘Soccer Practice’, was teased by Lizzie McApline a few months ago on her social media. The song grapples with false hope for what could’ve been, stuck in the suffering images of him picking the children up from soccer practice while she goes grocery shopping. It’s a vision so vivid of longing for a life that almost feels tangible, yet so out of reach. The chorus is met with a heavy-hitting: “we could’ve had it, but then again / we never could’ve done it / I was weaker then.” There’s a sense of resignation in her voice — it’s a fair she reluctantly seems to accept. She turns the blame inward for the ending of the relationship, forcing the listener to sit in the self-doubt with her. The lyric “I’m waiting for someone who will make me say no to you” highlights her need for external force to pull her away from these thoughts. McAlpine expresses a complete loss of control over her thoughts and desires in such a gentle and haunting way.

Alongside McApline’s mesmerising lyricism, her production creates a soundscape that perfectly compliments her storytelling. Her use of dissonance synth pedals throughout ‘Force of Nature’ mirrors the internal conflict of the lyrics which explore the unfiltered feeling of fruitless efforts of forgiveness. The eery arrangement tells its own side of the story, forewarning her of her pointless endeavours . The musical dialogue adds a depth of juxtaposition between hope and resignation. Lizzie McApline has made an extended version that is incredibly hard to criticise as it is so true to her own sound that any attempt to find fault almost feels trivial. McAlpine’s authenticity can be seen in every note. 

I fear it is impossible to describe my admiration for Lizzie McAlpine’s writing style and production. Her lyrics hold a level of simplicity that captures so much depth in a song. Her lyrics hit you in the gut before you can process it. She refuses to hide behind metaphors that people can gloss over, instead opting for an honesty that feels raw and unarmed. Lizzie McApline’s production further enhances her storytelling, using understated arrangements that allow the lyrics to take centre stage. It is rare to listen to an album which feels like reading the inside of her deepest thoughts, rather than a mirror of it hidden in the crevice of elaborate lyricism. This authenticity makes her work not only enjoyable to listen to, but deeply resonant. She invites the listener into her inner world while encouraging you to confront your own. Older (And Wiser) is an unforgettable album extension from the first to the last note.