Growing up in NYC, it’s almost impossible not to know the name LAUNDRY DAY – especially considering one of my best friend’s sisters went to school with them. However, four years since they burst onto the scene, I finally sat down to listen to them for the first time, and to say I was missing out was an understatement.

LAUNDRY DAY’s major label debut album, We Switched Bodies, was the perfect place to start. It is so rare to hear this level of cohesiveness from such a DIY sound, yet the group pulled it off perfectly, along with help from Brendan O’Brien and Video Store’s Kevin Abstract and Romil Hemnani. There’s a blend of immense maturity on the sound, yet purposefully interwoven immature moments, while the myriad of moods it takes you through creates what would be a perfect soundtrack to a summer camp movie. 

“The Knots” is a prime example of this, with beautiful harmonization yet a melancholic aura as they explore the freedom one has at a younger age, singing, “20 years from now / I hope you learned about how / The knots will tie you down.” Whether this is alluding to being tied down to something physically or emotionally, it has the tone of a coming of age story.

“We Switched Bodies,” the title track, can’t help but remind me of “one time at band camp” as the group tells a uniquely intimate love story about “the weirdest person I know.” The playful nature is brought to light as they quite literally explore a situation where two people switched bodies and the ensuing light-hearted situation. It is a lovely outro track capped off by a campfire group singing style.

That is just one of a many tracks that shows this side of LAUNDRY DAY while also sounding impeccable. “Worry Bout Yourself,” one of the lead singles, is a bouncy, electronic laced track, while a video where they are almost certainly tripping adds to the convoluted yet fun style as they run through the streets of New York dressed as Superman. You would have no idea from watching the video that it explores a burdensome relationship. Similarly, the grooviness and silly lyricism of “Blübe” almost masks the manipulative relationship it explores.

There are many feelings throughout We Switched Bodies, yet the prevailing feeling is that you just listened to a really good album that you should probably go back and listen to again - precisely what I did all day after it was released. Listen to the new album below:

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