After years of being a staple of the indie scene, Lauran Hibberd is finally ready to break free and make her mark on the mainstream. Debut album Garageband Superstar is the result of years of serious momentum-building from the Isle of Wight star. Culminating in a full length that offers tons of fun throughout.
Having been a fan of LH since the days of Everything Is Dogs, Garageband Superstar detours from the tried and tested and forges a new sound. Musically, it would not sound out of place with the best of 90s Pop Punk records, and it even tips a few hats to the outliers of the 90s mainstream too. Collaborations with members of Limp Bizkit and Wheatus? Sure, why not?
‘Still Running (5K)’ bounces into the ears with record scratches that throw you back a couple decades. Lauran’s fast-paced vocals match the intensity of the frantic instrumental, and she ponders how fast she’s moving against others to bring a real slice of existential crisis to the mix too. It’s this open honesty that makes Lauran Hibberd so relatable, which is present on the album but not as much as previous projects.
‘Rollercoaster’ is a superb opener that sets the tempo and goes to town with riffs that stick to your mind. Its pace is matched by the likes of ‘Step Mum’ and ‘That Was A Joke’ – which could easily become new fan favourites.
The Weezer-like chords of ‘Hot Boys’ really adds a gut punch to the record, while the title track adds a touch of bittersweet nostalgia to the mix. ‘Hole In The Head’ is a ‘Brain Stew’-esque walk towards the album’s heaviest moments, becoming a clear highlight of the album.
Garageband Superstar provides a summation of Lauran Hibberd’s career so far. Delivering a varied set of tracks that dive deep into her discography while proudly showing off her love for 90s Pop-Punk. Featuring collaborations with members of Limp Bizkit and Wheatus inside, this record does tend to celebrate the past rather than look forward to the future, but it does offer a lot of fun along the way.
While there aren’t songs that stand out as far as ‘How Am I Still Alive?’ and ‘Bleurgh’ here, Garageband Superstar does provide a cohesive list of songs that makes it a blast to listen to. This is a new chapter to Lauran Hibberd’s career, and I’m excited to hear where this new path takes her.