Local Review: LaFerris – I’m Pretty Sure the World Will End

LaFerris
I’m Pretty Sure the World Will End
Self-Released
Street: 05.01.2025
LaFerris = Death Cab For Cutie + Never Shout Never / Lil Peep’s Posthumous Single “Hair Dye”

The revival of sounds lost to the emo and scene days of the early 2000s will always have a soft spot in my heart. Call it escapism by way of nostalgia, but I love to look back at these old techniques and rituals performed by alternative artists of the past in admiration and adoration. The end is near and things are looking bleak. Many are looking back to their favorite cozy eras, whether it was a time period they truly experienced, or one they were not yet born for. I can’t say that I have a coherent memory of the wistfulness I associate with this time period of collective depression and apathy. Most of what I’ve heard has been reimagined originals, which were inspired by something before their time. An old favorite that comes to mind is “white tee” by Lil Peep, which samples The Postal Service‘s “Such Great Heights.” Each link in the chain of inspiration gets completed by its successor. One such case is LaFerris. 

There is something so daringly familiar about this album. It feels highly referential and yet much of the content remains entirely unique. Sure it touches on a lot of old favorites like self-effacing and deprecating lyrics, but there’s a new spin on the medium in every song. Even the song names themselves feel eerily memorable and reminiscent. Titles like “I Guess I’m Basic,” “Lie 2 Me” and “Wasting Time” remind me of classic sad, sentimental indie rock. And the sound delivers on that, making it feel homegrown and honest, folksy and warm. The piece plays Western-forward, as the artists are from Texas but make music here in Utah. With the finger plucking acoustics switching to electric power-ballads, as well as the angsty, whiny vocals, it’s like Midwest emo without the mid — just West emo. I hope that the title for this genre feels entirely encompassing. Truly, so many of the same elements are present as in shoegaze but are twisted up with these very playful, imaginative psych rock-like synths. Along with this commitment to the Western aesthetics, the cheesy, romantic lines feels similar to those in country songs and hold a similar straightforwardness. It all comes together in one pot of chicken noodle soup for the soul in music form — outdated but still good to have on the shelf. 

While much of the album does hold up in terms of strong lyricism, there are some stinkers here. The lyrics we have to address are the following: “My therapist, she let me go / She always knew I wouldn’t change” from “I’m Fine.” The track stands as my least favorite on the list, as the chorus just repeats itself and it feels the most phoned in. This genre thrives on an attitude of not caring, but if one leans in too hard, this is the result. The other lyric is from the (hopefully) satirical “5’8,” as the first lines go: “Always feeling short, never feeling tall / Always feeling weak, I’m always feeling small / I guess it’s a shame I can’t be 6’8.” As a person who unironically relates to the feeling of being shorter than average, this just hits a little too close to home. Genuinely, I get feeling small, and it’s not a fun feeling, but this song is the exact representation of why short people get made fun of. All of this makes me feel as if attending a LaFerris show would be a bit like living that viral video where the guy performing with an acoustic guitar sings, “You’ll be married in a year in the suburbs / With a kid on the way in three / Convincing yourself you’re living the American Dream.” So, proceed with caution. Still, the album holds up in terms of instrumentals. So I’m sure that a live show would be mind bending for all the right reasons. —Marzia Thomas

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