Los Angeles-based artist Kyle Lalone revealed his musical prowess in his latest album, Somewhere in Between. Released in April 2020, these five songs epitomize classic country music with unmatched lyrical and instrumental cohesion – which is no surprise considering he graduated from Berklee College of Music. Lalone wrote each song based on his personal journey with sobriety, heartbreak, and self-exploration. Though this is the first time I’ve encountered Lalone’s music, I know it won’t be the last!
The short album kicks off with Think Myself to Death, a youthful take on life’s uncertainties. The combination of pedal steel guitar and Lalone’s smooth voice (which was made to sing country music, by the way) creates a classic, upbeat twang. Lalone questions past choices, like moving away from his hometown and choosing to pursue country music. He speaks on the dangers of overthinking – oh, how relatable – and admits: “If I keep doing this, I might think myself to death.”
The second track, Our Love, is a light-hearted song about falling out of love. Similar to Think Myself to Death, this song has all the key tenets of classic country music, from heavy acoustics to a honky tonk swing. In the uncharacteristically upbeat breakup song, he sings, “Our love ain’t what it used to be, it’s like driving around on a tank that is empty.” Lalone reminisces on “how it used to be” with a charming level of acceptance that he needs to move on.
The heartbreak theme prevails in Warning Signs, though this song shifts the album from upbeat to melancholy. The slow rush of guitar emulates the aching pain of a breakup while Emily Hulslander’s soft vocals echo in the background. Lalone sings about adjusting to life without his partner, acknowledging that, “You and I rode that train until it came off the tracks, got back on time and time again….Never thought this ride would ever end.” The slowest of the five songs, Warning Signs, depicts a man struggling to balance his lingering affection for a past partner with his awareness that the relationship is over, perhaps for the better.
Lalone continues to share pieces of his past in Always Trying to Quit, a song about battling addiction. He reminisces to the days that he spent getting drunk and high only to wake up the next morning and do it all over again. He sings: “I’ve put down the bottle dozens of times, thrown my bag away…then I start thinking, get lost in my head and be drunk by the end of the day…” Similar to Our Love, this song addresses a somber subject with a level of charm and optimism unique to Lalone.
He leaves us with a truly hopeful song, as the closing track, I’m Not Gonna Drink Over You, is about moving on from his two major struggles: heartbreak and addiction. And he’s right to end the album on a positive note, as the future looks bright for this budding artist! Lalone is currently recording songs that will be released in 2021, so keep your eyes out for his newest music.
Listen and buy Somewhere In Between here.