Song Reviews: “Friend Group From Hell” and “3, 2, 1 Starve! (Why Do I Still Look The Same?)” by Hey, ILY

Coming off their incredible debut album Psychokinetic Love Songs in April 2022, Hey, Ily closed out 2022 by releasing two more singles via Lonely Ghost Records. The band is known for bending genres as self- proclaimed creators of  “emo nintendo nerd music” and these two songs are no exception. They’re oozing with creativity and that chaotic experimentation that makes Hey, Ily so damn enjoyable!

“Friend Group From Hell” is a frantic song about being surrounded by people who are caught up in partying and the negative effects that has on them and ultimately you. After a brief intro, the track kicks off with a super catchy guitar and synth work before slipping into a reserved verse with breakbeat drumming. The chorus is an ascending whirlwind that repeats “you’re such a bad judge of character, so what does that make me” among some fun effects and stops. The song continues with another verse and chorus before hitting a super bouncy guitar riff with a refrain of: “And all your friends will gorge themselves/On all the sex and drugs and rock and roll/And all your friends will gorge themselves/But they won’t ever be full.”

The song then closes out in the dopest way possible–a full reggae vibe complete with steel drums, syncopated guitars, and a dancey bass line.

TW: body dysmorphia, eating disorder

The second song is called “3,2,1 Starve! (Why Do I Still Look The Same?)” and is the heaviest stuff I’ve heard from Hey, Ily as they draw on hardcore influence to tell the struggle of radical self-acceptance and the pressure to find self worth in weight loss and the “ideal” body

 Caleb’s vocals throughout this song are gut-wrenching and melancholic, delivering everything this song needs to be impactful, especially in these lyrics: “I am a fraud/I am a hypocrite/I preach body positivity/Then stare at myself every single morning.”

There’s a falsetto quality to some of Caleb’s dirty vocals that remind me of Peter Rono from Kaonashi but less aggressive. The guitar and drum work really drives home the aggression and pensiveness throughout the ups and downs of this song.

These singles are raw, instrospective, and captivating. I’m beyond excited to see what else comes next for Hey, Ily in 2023! In the meantime, I’ll keep digging into the stuff they have out right now because it’s fantastic.

Hey, Ily is Caleb, Conner, Skyy, Trevin, and Stephen from Montana.

Connect with them here.