Lodestar (2029)
Certified platinum. The emphasis on this album is the instrumentation. Foster's lyrics are as clever and captivating as always, and are pleasantly interspersed with songs by both Vackers, but the true genius of this album is found in the creative melodies and emotive instrumental line. Singles Hollywood, Silver and Gold, andGirls and Boys, as well as album-opener The Whole of Me are all phenomenal songs with memorable melodies and riffs.
"The Whole of Me" || 3:51 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Instrumentation intended to sound anxious and worried; guitar/piano duet; gentle yet stressed-sounding vocals
Trivia: Written as a pre-first-date song; music video starred Keefe and former Watson's World star Natalie Freeman as the anxious parties; in real life the pair announced their relationship on social media right as the music video debuted
"When You're Twenty Three" || 4:07 || #1 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Sophie Foster and Dex Dizznee || Carefree, yet cautious lyrics about being free; rhythmic guitar; one piano solo
Trivia: Sequel song to "Nineteen"; Sophie wanted to write another song about age now that they were all a little older and wiser; like its prequel, "When You're Twenty Three" flew straight to the top of the charts right after its release; both times, the band noted the irony that songs about age were written and released years after any band member was the age in the song
"For You" || 3:44 || #1 || Lyrics by Biana Vacker || Gentle love song with scenes (both silly and serious) from a relationship; opens and closes with piano solos; guitar and drums accompany Biana's vocals and piano
Trivia: First song that Biana wrote entirely by herself, from the lyrics to the instrumentation/melodies, and even string quartet and solo piano adaptations of the song; an automatic shoe-in for the album, as it showed off many sides of Biana
"That's Fine" || 4:00 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Like its predecessor, a slow, moving track; narrator sings about things being 'fine', but wanting more than that; primarily piano and drums, with occasional guitar riffs
Trivia: The chords and drums beats were written over five years after the lyrics, as this was one of the songs Sophie wrote before they got their record deal
"Hollywood" || 3:36 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Dreamy, mysterious track with vague, mystical lyrics; light drums, no cymbals
Trivia: Lyrics penned after Sophie started renting an apartment closer to the studio and experienced what it was like to live so close to fame
"Silver and Gold" || 5:39 || #1 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Fast-paced instrumentation intended to shake up the listener after the previous slower songs; bells and xylophone included to show off Keefe's skills with many percussive instruments
Trivia: The title of the song only appears once in the lyrics; lyrics penned about friendship, but like many friendship songs, it was taken as a love song; flew to the top of the charts after only three weeks of release
"Better Than That (feat. Dex Dizznee" || 4:32 || #1 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Sophie Foster and Dex Dizznee || Similarly fast-paced song as its predecessor; sassy lyrics telling the story of coming out of a bad relationship and not acting like the other person
Trivia: Dex's vocal debut; song was released a week before Dex revealed that he was releasing an EP; lyrics penned during a conversation between Sophie and Dex about past unhealthy friendships and relationships; song written as the ultimate snub, as the people they'd left behind were where they'd been left and Sophie and Dex were living their dreams
"After It All" || 5:22 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Return to the slower, more introspective sound of the album, this track focuses on music (specifically guitar and piano);
Trivia: Errol Forkle, the band's manager, requested a song that could make people cry and Sophie legitimately pulled these lyrics out of her pocket; Fitz said in an interview that they were all staring at her for so long that she started blushing
"You're Gonna Be" || 4:12 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Only a little faster than the average song on this album; opens with drums; closes with quiet guitar riffs
Trivia: Sophie has said that she wrote the song a few months after her wedding, and had 'babies on the brain', which explains why the song is a conversation between a parent and a child; considering their first child was born a year after the song was released, Fitz got the message
"Girls and Boys" || 4:35 || #1 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Sophie Foster and Dex Dizznee || Busy, yet engaging song about growing up; earwormy instrumentation; catchy lyrics; Keefe takes lead vocals and Biana supports
Trivia: Written about the band themselves, adults who refused to fully grow up; Keefe said in an interview that Sophie also owned a well-loved copy of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan when he met her, so individuals believe that the song was also based off of that
"Like Her" || 3:22 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Similar anxious feel as the opening track; intentionally jittery drums to promote the insecurity in this song; short piano solo;
Trivia: Lyrics paint the story of a girl who wishes to be popular and is willing to change everything about herself to get there, until she realizes she's nothing more than a copy; lyrics penned after a meet-and-greet, when Sophie met a girl much like the narrator of the song
"Doofus" || 3:17 || Lyrics by Sophie Foster || Opens with fast, cheerful-sounding guitar riff; shows off Biana's vocal range; Keefe multitasks with drums and supporting vocals
Trivia: Only truly lighthearted song on the album; about a young, happy couple; rumored to have been written after the relationship Jolie and Brant had before he killed her due to Sophie's admission that the lyrics were penned following Brant's death
"I Know You" || 4:10 || Lyrics by Fitz Vacker || Faster, but not enthusiastic track; sweet piano melody; vocal extremes from both Biana and Keefe; on-point dums; one guitar solo showcasing Fitz's skill; truly intended to show off each band member's skills
Trivia: Written for the entire band to show the bond they had; the instrumentation was carefully crafted to demonstrate what each band member was best at: Fitz in lyricism and guitar, Biana in singing and piano, and Keefe in singing and percussion; Sophie is represented in every word and note, as (according to the other band members) she is its heart and soul
Bonus:
"Hometown" || 4:13 || Released As Single || Lyrics by Biana Vacker and Fitz Vacker || Carefree and happy; light crosspicking; swaying vocals
Trivia: Fitz and Biana wrote the song about the band's hometown; full of inside jokes and references that only residents would catch