Chastity Belt’s newest record, Live Laugh Love skillfully blends wit, honesty, and insight to traverse life’s complexity. The band skillfully creates a soundscape that is both deliciously surprising and profoundly familiar throughout each of its songs.

The album’s musical palette is established from the first few bars of “Hollow,” which blends aggressive rhythms and dreamy guitar tones to produce an airy but grounded feel. Tracks like “It’s Cool,” which have shimmering melodies floating over powerful basslines to create a tension that is both compelling and therapeutic, go further in exploring this contradiction.

Lyrically, Live Laugh Love showcases Chastity Belt’s adept observational skills and wry humor. Whether they’re contemplating the mundane rituals of daily existence or delving into existential themes, the band’s lyrics are consistently sharp, poignant, and profoundly relatable. For instance, tracks like ‘I-90 Bridge’ offer incisive commentary on the struggle with depression and the longing for liberation, while ‘Chemtrails’ navigates the intricacies of relationships with a unique mix of vulnerability and insight.

Chastity Belt exhibits incredible range throughout the record, flitting from reflective periods and exuberant outbursts of energy with ease. And let’s not overlook the album’s impeccable sound quality. Live Laugh Love offers auditory delight, boasting opulent production and delicate orchestral embellishments. Its richness beckons for repeated indulgence, whether you’re luxuriating in the shimmering guitars interwoven throughout or immersing yourself in the ethereal ambiance of its lyrical depth. With each listen, the album unveils fresh layers and subtleties, further captivating your attention.

Live Laugh Love is essentially an outstanding example of indie rock songwriting, demonstrating Chastity Belt’s ability to combine comedy, melancholy, and catchy melody into an incredibly engrossing musical experience. From the looks of it, the band very much feels like seasoned artists in their given field, Live Laugh Love is proof of their ongoing inventiveness and skill.