The Neighbourhood—made up of Jesse Rutherford, Jeremy Freedman, Zach Abels, Mikey Margott, and Brandon Fried–craft the perfect soundtrack for colder days, whether you’re sipping hot chocolate, driving down leaf-covered streets, or listening indoors as the wind stirs the curtains.
Over the bass guitar and drum beats, vocalist Jesse Rutherford sings about keeping a relationship private or low-key in the first track, “Private.”
With his soft voice, he sings: “You've got a way, contagious in a room. Hallucinate when I'm dancin' with you. All that it takes is a taste, and we'll know what we should do. Too soon to say, better behave, shh, keepin' it private.” Whether they are intending do so intentionally or not, they both feel as if they are hiding their connection.
In “OMG,” Rutherford sings about missing someone, and no one can bring his bright smile back other than the person he is missing. “One more time, together on the ride. Through the black and white and grey. Saw a sign dancing in the light. Nothing gets me high the same way you do.”
Over the tambourine and the electric guitar, he continues by singing: “Oh my God, I used to love you when I was younger than I've ever been.” Could it be possible this relationship stole away his youth?
With that said, don’t let Rutherford “Lovebomb” you in the third track. It's in this track where he reflects on the possibility of catching feelings or believing he’s in love too soon. Rather than saying “I love you” himself, he’d rather hear it from the other person first.
Over a slower guitar rhythm similar to Newsboys' gospel song "God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion)," Rutherford sings, “I know it's crazy, I know that I'm a fool. I know it's way too soon to tell you I love you. You just gotta say a few magic words baby, you're the one that's gonna break the curse. What's it really matter who says it first? Say it to me, babe, I wanna break the curse.”
Between now and Nov. 14, put on your sweater, turn up the car speakers, and play their new music while driving around your neighbourhood.