Following the release of their excellent EP ‘Put Yourself Back Together’, Real Friends found themselves thrust into the spotlight and seemed to be on the verge of becoming everyone’s favourite band. Expectations were therefore set fairly high for their début album ‘Maybe This Place Is The Same And We’re Just Changing’ and although it had some fantastic songs it felt a bit directionless at times. Having a loyal and ever-growing fan base means that the release of ‘The Home Inside My Head’ is not a make or break moment for the band, but you would hope that they may have found the confidence to push themselves more this time.
The creative partnership of Kyle Fasel and Dan Lambton continues to grow and it’s firing on all cylinders this time around as tracks like ‘Mokena’ demonstrate superbly. The result is some of the best songs that Real Friends have written so far, and one or two that may end up being the best of their career. Album opener ‘Stay In One Place’ picks up where they left off as the familiar guitar tones and honest lyricism are immediately put on display. It’s an energetic and confident start that feeds neatly into ‘Empty Picture Frames’. The neat central riff coupled with the soaring but fragile tones of Dan’s vocals help drive the song forward, but it’s the sing-along chorus that makes the track sound huge and guarantees it will become a firm live favourite.
Throughout ‘The Home Inside My Head’ you get a true sense for how brilliant the songs will sound in a live environment, but it’s not just because of the big choruses on classic Real Friends tracks such as ‘Keep Lying To Me’ or the anthemic ‘Basement Stairs’. Instead it’s the subtleties and moments of previously unmatched creativity and honesty that will likely see ‘The Home Inside My Head’ near the top of many album of the year lists.
‘Eastwick’ is stripped back to the bare essentials, and the simple but captivating acoustic backing allow Dan Lambton’s emotional vocals to fill the space. For a band that are known for their lyrical honesty, it’s a truly stunning example and one that will cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up. When Real Friends do pick up the pace then the results are almost as impressive. ‘Scared To Be Alone’ is a huge song, and the refrain of “Don’t settle because you’re scared to be alone” is sure to draw a passionate response from many who hear it.
Admittedly, If you’ve previously been immune to the appeal of Real Friends then there’s not much about ‘The Home Inside My Head’ that will change your opinion. It is unashamedly a modern pop-punk record in every way but it also happens to be one of the best of recent years as album closer ‘Colder Quicker’ demonstrates. On the surface not much has changed, but dig a little deeper and the quality of ‘The Home Inside My Head’ quickly becomes obvious. Real Friends may not have broken any self-imposed boundaries this time but they have certainly stretched them further than they ever have before.
CHRIS HILSON