REVIEW: Lavalove - Tan Lines
- Naomi Colliar Duff
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Heads up: you’re in the splash zone. SoCal surf rockers LAVALOVE are back with their second album, following up their 2023 debut with a sure fire soundtrack for the summer. No need to pack for the holidays - with Tan Lines, they’re bringing the beach to us. Sun-soaked, yet cool and refreshing; this is the perfect beachside cocktail to sip on while you’re tanning on the sands, getting ready to catch some waves, or bar-hopping through the SoCal scene.
They start the party with Hopelessly Devoted, a track that sees the band riffing on the similarly-titled serenade from classic summer flick Grease. Tealarose Coy’s hypnotic vocals take centre-stage, collaborative cheerleader-chant vocals piping up to reinforce the chorus. Surf rock riffs soon give way to Motion Picture’s upbeat pop stylings, very SABRINA CARPENTER in the way of Coy’s “uh-huh!” interjections. When it comes to the song of the summer, this one is a definite contender. Not only is it a really enjoyable listen, it’s also incredibly fun to sing along to. Go Go Boots follows, taking us on a tour of SoCal’s nightlife with a garage rock-tinged anthem packed full of cheeky lyrics and grimy riffage. To squeeze the full effectiveness from this track, you need your volume dial turned all the way to the right; if you’re not blasting this, you’re listening wrong. They cap off this banger with a post-climax cameo: the opening riff to GUNS N’ ROSES’ Sweet Child O’ Mine - as if to say that yes, this track will become a playlist staple too.
When it comes to title-track Tan Lines, LAVALOVE have created an immediate earworm, descending guitar tones riding next to punchy one-two drumbeats. Shimmering like reflections in the smooth teal exterior of a VW campervan, this track is a perfect tune for karaoke behind the wheel. Messing With The Man is a little grungier, apparent from the introductory grimy tones and assaulting barrage of drums that surround us at every angle. The cheerleading chants are recurring here, chipping in with refrains to follow the chorus. Working On My Way (ft. Garden of Edith) is another easy-listening tune, twangy guitars and rhythmic vocals intertwining to create an almost shoegazey sound that keeps the LP fresh and interesting.
Never Better follows with subversion; when the chorus hits, there’s an edgier, razor-sharpness that acts as a little taste of something new for this record: some grit injected into the track list. Sniffing Around runs with it - not in sound, but in lyrics. There’s a fun nostalgic element in this timeless track that reminds us of summers past, dancing in the kitchen to pop bangers filtering through the radio on the windowsill. The lyrics betray this: if you listen closely, something darker lives between the lines. It’s about burying a relationship - literally. Cheating ex-boyfriends find a resting place six feet under in this track, while the singer playfully alludes to her (alleged) crime with a knowing smirk.
Penultimately, Magic Mushrooms comes in with an immediate rush, tremolo picking techniques at play with sixties-era surf riffs that lead into lighter-than-air vocals. It’s effortlessly captivating, a powerful confidence in Coy’s vocals that carries through the entire track. A recurring thread in this record, this is one that’s short - only two and a half minutes in length - but sweet enough to stick in our heads. Shot echoes that; it’s another airy, casual banger that ends the album not with a showstopper but a gentle fade into the summer breeze, leaving us with a cheeky wink towards the camera.
LAVALOVE’s Tan Lines is a brilliant collection of summery bangers that makes up a perfect soundtrack for the season; it’s packed full of enough tunes for roadtrip karaoke, tracks to blast from the speaker casually tossed onto your towels at the beach as you catch a tan, or even just to filter through your headphones as you go about your day. It’s riddled with intensely memorable melodies, each track sure to find a home in your playlists; if not, they’ll be echoing in your head all day anyway.
Score: 9/10
Tan Lines will be released on 3rd April 2026 via Pure Noise Records.
Words: Naomi Colliar Duff
Photos: Lavalove
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