Alex G Redefines Indie with New Album “Headlights”

Photo via Spotify

Alex G is an artist best known for his indie rock with a touch of lo-fi sound. Recently signing with RCA records is a big deal for an indie artist like Alex G. His discography is filled with carefully crafted albums, each intentionally designed to evoke a specific sound. His production style and melodic vocals feel robust and complete. His new album Headlights was released on July 18th. With his knowledge of production and multi-instrumentation, it is no surprise that this album is riddled with fun sounds for us to dissect. 

The album opens with “June Guitar” a softer sounding track that packs a punch lyrically. "Love ain’t for the young anyhow” is a line that will live in me forever. On top of gut-punching lyrics like that, Alex plays nearly every instrument himself, layering drums, bass, acoustic guitar, even harmonium, into a rich soundscape. 

“Real Thing” starts out acoustic, which gives us the chance to listen to the lyrics closely. It evolves into a sonically rich and emotionally satisfying arrangement at about two minutes in. The layering instrumentation is captivating and honestly I’ve listened a couple of times just to pick a new instrument to focus on. 

“Afterlife” is one of the leading singles from the album along with “June Guitar” and “Oranges”. In listening to these prior to the album release, I was able to find some through-lines in the production that hinted at the album to come. “Oranges” came out the day before the album drop and listeners expressed excitement about how the full album would tie the three singles together.. 

“Louisiana” is a personal favorite of mine from the album. There are certain songs that I love strictly because I can hear and feel what I think they would sound like live. This is always a fun experiment for me because when I find songs like this it ultimately is what pushes me over the edge to buy tickets to shows. The drumming is heavy, simple, and executed perfectly, anchoring the song without overpowering it. 

The album closes with a standout track that feels raw and authentic. “Logan Hotel (Live)” is the only live song on the album. Hearing a band backing Alex G up after hearing his intricate solo production throughout the album demonstrates his ability to creatively play with different sounds. 

Alex G’s Headlights is a certified indie rock lo-fi classic.