ALBUM REVIEW: Postcards – Peace, Love, the American Dream, Sadness, and Everything In-Between

‘…not only a fun record, but deeply heartfelt one, making it a worthy listen for emo and folk fans alike…’

Based out of Denver, Colorado, emo outfit Postcards originally began releasing music back in 2015, with a plethora of singles, a handful of EPs, and a debut record. After numerous extensive tours across the US, the band called it quits in 2019.

Then, in 2023, the band not only reunited, but surprise dropped their second LP, ‘Heaven’. Since then, it’s been a steady stream of singles, and this January saw the release of Postcards’ third record, the impeccably titled ‘Peace, Love, the American Dream, Sadness, and Everything In-Between’.

‘Advil’ is a whimsical, buoyant opening number, with jaunty rhythms swinging beneath simple, breezy riffs. It plays perfectly into the bittersweet lyricism that captures the absurdity of making it from one day to the next in this wild modern world. ‘Endlessly’ packs dangerously infectious melodies next to a free-spirited acoustic-lead instrumental.

‘The Tao Has Been Helping’ features stomp-clap rhythms that hook you right in, alongside vocals that are delivered with a folksy melancholy. ‘Suffer the Consequence’ starts with a beautiful acoustic verse, before evolving into a shimmering emo number; the instrumental takes on a fuzzy wall-of-sound nature, whilst the lyrics stand out as some of the finest of the album (‘It’s like you and me are the ones/That ate from the tree and now we/Suffer the consequence’).

‘Give Me a Chance (old shitty cars)’ makes for a wonderful climax to the record, with a surprising amount of grandiosity; the cozy folk nature of the record is now combined with soaring musical passages and vocals that sweep upwards. The ‘hidden’ track at the song’s end is a lovely touch, with its acoustic, lo-fi nature giving it the feeling of an epilogue. It’s perhaps only a shame that the album is yet to receive a CD version that truly captures the 00’s feeling of stumbling across a hidden track.

For those who are looking for a grand, lengthy, or complex listen, ‘Peace[…]’ probably isn’t the record for them; few songs reach even the two minute mark, and the whole album is tied up with thirty minutes. The manner in which Postcards constructs their songs feels as though you are intentionally being given the briefest glimpses into their lives; postcards from their internal world, if you will.

Yet for those seeking a charming, bittersweet, and often catchy listen, then there are far worse ways to spend half an hour than listening to this record. What Postcards have produced is not only a fun record, but deeply heartfelt one, making it a worthy listen for emo and folk fans alike.

Just don’t ask me to say the title five times fast.

RATING: 73/100 – Good

For Fans Of: A Place For Owls, saturdays at your place, The Hotelier, Sleeping Patterns

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify