I will never stop romanticizing being a teenager in the early 2010s, even though I wasn’t even 10 and definitely did not have access to Tumblr. I don’t know what it was about that time; maybe everything just seemed easier back then.
One thing is for sure, though: the indie music released at the time was so incredibly good and has been attributed to some of my favorite songs of all time. Today’s album is called “Coastal Grooves” by the English indie singer-songwriter Blood Orange, otherwise known as Davonte Hynes. This being his debut studio album using the new name, Hynes got creative and incorporated several different genres like R&B, baroque pop, indie rock, and electronic music.
After hearing “Champagne Coast” in the 2013 film “Palo Alto,” I first discovered this album, and I was like…..what is this gorgeous melody? Since then, I’ve gotten to know Blood Orange’s works and sound and became a big fan. The album is relatively short, coming up to only about 40 minutes in length and consisting of 10 tracks. I’m not going to go over every song because I want to focus on the ones I found the most interesting,
The opening song, “Forget It,” carries the ongoing coming-of-age movie feel that Blood Orange is able to incorporate in a lot of his songs. It’s a groovy melody that includes a lot of synths and soft vocals. The energy that it gives is honestly kind of foggy; the lyrics revolve around longing and emotional detachment, while encapsulating a hazy, introspective vibe. Hynes uses the repetition of “forget it” to represent an internal struggle, where someone tries to let go but still feels emotionally tethered to the situation or person.
The next track I want to talk about is “I’m Sorry We Lied.” This track had me feeling mysterious and mystical: hold onnnnn. This track includes melancholic guitars that almost resemble those from the 80s, paired with his soft, melodic lyrical delivery that creates a dreamy atmosphere for the listener. The lyrics themselves discuss dishonesty in a relationship that doesn’t feel like a confession, but more like a shared acknowledgment of deception on both sides.
“Complete Failure” starts with heavy, reverbed guitars that almost give a bit of an Old Western vibe. It conveys a sense of disappointment and self-doubt, with the blunt title suggesting the feeling of overwhelming inadequacy. It almost feels like the narrator has reached a breaking point, and the lyrics are delivered in a detached, distant tone. The track is able to capture the emotional weight of regret and loss. It has no dramatic climax or bridge, just a lingering feeling of quiet disappointment and acceptance.
“The Complete Knock” has a more uplifting beat. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves because the lyrics are still sad! Don’t let the jazzy chords fool you: Hynes continues to sing about longing. The title itself could be a metaphor for the emotional impact or a decisive moment in a relationship.
All of the songs on this record carry a sense of detachment and vulnerability. The way Hynes delivers his lyrics makes them feel like fragments of memories rather than a linear narrative. This album feels like you’re spinning around multiple times and then coming to a stop, letting the dizziness flow over your senses.
Saving the best for last, my favorite song ever is “Champagne Coast.” I could write an essay about all the feelings that this song encompasses, but for now, I’ll keep it brief. This song blends longing, sensuality, and nostalgia into one dreamy production. The lyrics create a dreamlike scenario of a narrator longing for a romantic connection that feels both distant and immediate. The feeling of a perfectly cinematic moment that in reality might not fully deliver the same energy: basically the reality of daydreaming as a teenager. The melodies themselves are what get me; they just sound so beautiful and nostalgic and feel very intimate. Every good coming-of-age movie could use this song in some scene and have it work perfectly.
Overall, the album can get repetitive, which isn’t bad. Blood Orange has a specific style that he sticks to and it works great for him, especially for the time this was released. It definitely has very early 2010’s indie cool iPhone 4 Tumblr blog energy. Like Hynes, I’m just starting to throw out words and hoping that they make sense.
Personal Ranking:
1: Champagne Coast
2: I’m Sorry We Lied
3: The Complete Knock
4: Forget It
5: Complete Failure
6: Can We Go Inside Now
7: Are You Sure You’re Really Busy?
8: S’Cooled
9: Sutphin Boulevard
10: Instantly Blank (The Goodness)
