LANY Gets ‘Soft’ On Love in Electric New Album 

With catchy snare beats and charismatic musical storytelling, pop-rock band LANY returned with the release of their sixth studio album, “Soft,” Oct. 10., bringing a sense of maturity to their discography on a record that worships both love and loss. 

Founded in Nashville in 2014, LANY is a two-man band made up of vocalist and guitarist Paul Klein and drummer Jake Goss. Hoping their music would have an impact coast to coast, they named themselves “Los Angeles New York,” they told Teen Vogue after their debut. 

Track by track, “Soft” builds a profound bond between religious tradition and the act of falling in love, worshipping the connection drawn between two deeply intimate human sanctuaries. 

The title track centers acoustic guitar and celestial vocals in a metaphorical reference to sex as a heavenly act where one’s body is a divine altar and the act of love an answered prayer. 

“Nothin’ ‘bout you ever hurts me / You’re so soft / I’m a lover at your mercy,” Klein sings. 

Two days after the record was announced, lead single “Know You Naked” was released Aug. 1.

The synth-pop track fuses distorted electric guitar with passionate vocals, painting a sultry picture of lust as a form of passionate love —  reminiscent of LANY’s sophomore album “Malibu Nights.” 

On “Stuck,” lyricism lingers on a past relationship, contrasting hastened vocals and punchy drum kicks, illustrating internal emotional conflict between remembering and moving on.

The record provides a variety of instrumentation evocative of LANY’s previous releases, combining bright snare percussion with electric synthesizers to create captivating melodies. 

Catchy instrumentation draws listeners into the insightful narrative lying within Klein’s vocals. 

LANY extends a hand to anyone struggling to find their place while navigating the emotionally complex paradox of life in their early 20s. 

The lead singer’s narrative potential is explored with earnest lyricism in “Act My Age,” which questions what it means to live authentically when it feels like everyone else is one step ahead. 

“All my friends back home got married / While I’m still going on first dates / Sometimes I wonder what I’m missing / What does it mean to act my age,” Klein sings. 

“You Make Me Forget” brings an retro electropop element to the record as a funky reverb on vocals meets striking percussion to produce an R&B-influenced synth bed. 

As the track progresses, a charged combination of electric guitar and melodic synthesizers build a dynamic atmosphere as the album heads toward its end. 

Bringing the record full circle, “Last Forever” closes the album where it began on the title-track — with a passionate serenade to love. 

“Every beat, every breath, every minute I have left / You’re the only thing in life I’ve ever had / That I wanted to last forever,” Klein sings. 

A steady bass blends with a tender piano melody as the desperate lyricism grows hopeful like a flower blooming in the spring rain, describing a love intense enough to mold life’s hardships into moments of fleeting beauty. 

Though the record rarely deviates from the band’s traditional instrumental style, thoughtful and metaphorical storytelling brings a new edge to their discography and is reflective of their narrative growth. From electric synthesization to stable drum machine patterns and animated vocals, “Soft” is a testament to LANY’s musical consistency and lyrical depth. 

“Soft” is available on all major streaming platforms.