Sad Face Baby - The Lathums
The Lathums seek to build on their success on a heavier sophomore album
For most bands, the journey to success is long and arduous. Even for those who manage to score a hit single or two, maintaining momentum can be a challenge. So the odds of getting a number one album on your debut as a band are low, let alone achieving it for a second time. However, that's precisely what The Lathums have done.
Signed in 2020 and releasing their debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be, in 2021, The Lathums managed to find an audience during a time when pub gigs weren't even happening. The band's optimistic outlook on life connected with fans, and they kicked on with live shows. Their momentum was tested this week with the release of their second album, and they did not disappoint.
The beauty of life was captured in their debut album, but the stark difference in their sophomore release is that grief is the main theme. The Lathums have leaned into that emotion and confronted it head-on, resulting in an album that showcases the whole spectrum of grief to optimism. There's a real heart-on-your-sleeve level of directness that can be heard in every track, with the first track, Struggle, setting the tone. But even with grief as the main theme, there's still an underlying optimism that shines through, with the album finishing on an eight-minute anthem of gratitude and thankfulness in Undeserving.
The Lathums' sophomore album has already received positive reviews, and the band's supporting tour with The Killers, during which Brandon Flowers even covered one of their tracks, has helped to build anticipation. With a big festival season ahead, The Lathums are well on their way to achieving the arenas they were dreaming of when playing the pub circuit back in 2019.
Sad Face Baby is a track that showcases the whole spectrum of grief to optimism, and it's the band's best to date. From start to finish, the energy of the track is infectious, and it's sure to be a festival anthem this summer. The lead single from their latest album, From Nothing To A Little Bit More, showcases a sound that's even bigger than their debut.