Lush Life is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band the Belair Lip Bombs. It was released on 25 August 2023 via Cousin Will Records, and re-issued by Third Man Records in 2024 to become the label's first Australian record. Preceded by four singles, Lush Life was released to critical acclaim, and won Best Rock or Punk Work at the 2024 Music Victoria Awards.
Some songs on Lush Life were written years prior to recording. "Gimme Gimme" was the oldest, written in 2020—it took the band years to complete its structure and vocal melodies.[3] "Suck It In" dates back to a demo recorded in 2021. Conversely, "World Is the One" was written in one day.[3]
Vocal recording sessions lasted up to 15 hours at a time, as frontwoman Maisie Everett wanted to perfectly match the idea in her head of how each song sounded.[4] "Things That You Did" features the Belair Lip Bombs' first musical guest, Sarah Hellyer from Floodlights playing trumpet.[4]
Composition
Lush Life thematically explores "having an imperfect life yet always striving for something better," according to Jason West of New Noise Magazine.[2] In her lyrics, Everett reminisces on a past relationship on the opening track "Say My Name", and desperately tries to reclaim this sense of connection on "Gimme Gimme".[2] The desire for a perfect life is considered on "Stay or Go", as Everett questions if working towards her dreams will be worth it.[1]
The Belair Lip Bombs released Lush Life on 25 August 2023, issued via Melbourne-based independent label Cousin Will Records.[5] In August 2024, the group became the first Australians to sign with Nashville-based label Third Man Records, who re-issued Lush Life on vinyl.[7]
Lush Life received acclaim from music critics, who were particularly impressed by the range of styles on display. According to Doug Wallen of British music magazine NME, the Belair Lip Bombs "mov[e] between a spirited range of styles" in a way that may have sounded unfocused for groups less honed.[5] Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian said the album's first 10 minutes alone featured some of the catchiest choruses he'd heard in the past year, calling Lush Life "the kind of punchy, hook-laden rock record that hardly gets made any more, straightforward in sound but borderline unassailable in its construction."[6] Reviewing for American publication Pitchfork, Laura Snapes called the album a "classic power-pop rager that’s euphoric and greyhound-lithe."[1]
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