The Favors Album Review

Last week, I told you all that I would stick to my area of Arts and Entertainment expertise and write book reviews. But I lied, because also a week ago, a new, superstar band released their debut album, and despite my lack of musical knowledge, I must talk about it. 

The new band, The Favors, is made up of FINNEAS (commonly known as Billie Eilish’s brother) and Ashe (known for her song “Moral of The Story,” which I just found out FINNEAS helped produce, so I guess I’m a fake fan), as well as drummer marinelli and guitarist Ricky Gourmet. Last Friday, they released their debut album, “The Dream,” which consists of 12 songs. 

Personally, this has been a greatly anticipated album, even overshadowing the one and only Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend.” During high school, Ashe made my top five Spotify artists at least once. I remember watching “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” circa Feb. 2020, right before the pandemic. There’s a scene of the main character walking down the hallway in slow motion to “Moral of the Story,” which is still Ashe’s most listened to song on Spotify. That song, although now it’s been overplayed, was a staple for the rest of high school. It helped me get into her other music, and I’ve followed her throughout the years, more than I have FINNEAS. So, when I heard that she was starting a band, I knew it must be good. And it was. 

The Favors had me hooked with the first single they released, “The Little Mess You Made,” which was pretty much my song of the summer. The song is so playful, but at the same time has so much emotion that you can belt it out and dance around in your room to it. 

After that, they hit us with another single, “The Hudson.” At first, this song didn’t live up to the same energy that I was expecting after “The Little Mess You Made.” But I kept coming back to it. It’s a very sad and honest song about the struggles and inevitability of a relationship ending. 

As I’m writing this, I’m listening to “Necessary Evils” (it was just on shuffle, I promise), and oh my goodness, I must say I had overlooked it until now. Heartbreaking. That’s really my only comment. They put so much raw and relatable emotion into their lyrics and then sing it like it’s the most casual thing ever to say, “While I’m still in one piece, can we rip up the lease and move out?” If I didn’t know more about Ashe’s love life, I’d think this was a breakup album. Actually, it really might be. Please listen to the album and then get back to me. 

Among these 12 songs is one titled “Lake George,” only a mere three hours from our very own St. Lawrence University. This isn’t my favorite song on the album; I just thought I’d mention it. 

Lastly, I’ll talk, of course, about the title track. I feel like often the title tracks don’t live up to my expectations, but for this album, it did. “The Dream” has been stuck in my head on repeat, and I don’t even think it’s the song I’ve listened to the most from the album. The urgent beat to the pre-chorus and what I can only describe as being hit by the lyrics: “Hard not to feel pathetic, Maxing out your credit card, On someone’s beverage, Someone you just met at the bar” – it’s just perfect. The lyrics written out do not do the song justice. Please go listen to it. 

In all these songs, Ashe and FINNEAS just mesh so well together. Their voices complement each other so well, and I truly believe they were meant to find each other in the music industry. The album and vocal chemistry between them give “Daisy Jones & The Six” vibes (which is known to be inspired by the relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham). 

This album has heartbreaking, sappy and rage-filled songs all at the same time, and you can listen to it daily without people wondering if you’re okay, because when they listen to it, they’ll say “WOW! Now THAT is a catchy tune.” Now, this time I mean it, I promise I won’t write anymore about music.