Canadian-pop band, Valley, have done something that is not seen everyday in the music industry. Following the release of their EP, Last Birthday, in October 2021, Valley has just released a follow up EP to Last Birthday titled The After Party; which is the second installment in what the group calls their “Last Birthday” era.
This deluxe three-track EP features “Last Birthday”, “7 Stories”, and “Paper Cup (sorry for myself)”. “Last Birthday” is a particularly special song for the group as it has been teased for quite some time and is praised as their favorite song they’ve created together. This track is absolutely heartbreaking and illustrates being with the one you love, during all their life events – from birthdays to the baggage claim – even if they aren’t standing along with you. “Last Birthday” reminds me of the very early Twenty One Pilots albums, a devastating message accompanied with an upbeat tune and beautiful vocals, almost making you forget the reason why tears are streaming down your face.
“7 Stories” is equally as heartbreaking, but contrary to the previous track, you definitely can’t ignore why the tears are streaming. This story continues to put our partners first and ourselves in second, hoping, wishing, they’ll come back to you post-breakup. ‘But I woke up in the middle of the night / Had a dream you were calling saying sorry / But I got no missed calls, do you miss me at all?’. Heartbreaking.
Last, but not least, “Paper Cup (sorry for myself)” finishes this EP with a tune about quite literally feeling sorry for yourself. Hey, we all have the moments, and this song explains every emotion between sadness, anger, and the like when life seems to take a wrong turn.
Compared to its predecessor, The After Party, has definitely evolved the composition and lyrical abilities of Valley. The lyrics of “Last Birthday”, “7 Stories”, and “Paper Cup (sorry for myself)” have a much newer, more refreshing, and mature aspect to them than anything else Valley has done. Recently being named one of Amazon Music’s 2022 Artists to Watch, I couldn’t agree more. We are moving head first into the “Last Birthday” era and there’s no turning back now.
Valley
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Cover image by Becca Hamel
