Lauran Hibberd certifies her pop-rock Princess status on ‘Goober’ EP
First, there was Alanis and Avril, now Lauran is taking over their crown
Photo: Rebecca Need-Menear
Isle of Wight’s pop-rocker Lauran Hibberd has released her second EP, Goober. The EP contains plenty of familiar songs that have already been released, such as How Am I Still Alive? (with Lydia Night of The Regrettes), Boy Bye, Old Nudes, and Bleugh but contains two new tracks: Crush and You’ve Never Looked So Cool. Even with a handful of singles, Goober showcases Lauran’s talent wonderfully in her best effort yet.
Bleugh is an opening track that deserves to be blared through your listening method of choice. Her rocker side takes centre stage as she laments about someone who doesn’t seem to truly share her affections. It’s got some catchy, classically rock ‘n’ roll messy chord progressions; passive aggression that is irresistible to not get into, and her fantastic lyrical wit. If you need a song to pass the time as you wait for that certain someone to get it together, you’ve found it.
Old Nudes is a laid back number about douchey men who are as sleazy as they are greedy. Lauran doesn’t like this person whatsoever, and she makes it clear as day with lyrics like “You said you wanted me to be honest / So I told you that I hated your face / You were letting down the human race” but they keep coming around because they’re stuck on her. She doesn’t want to be stuck in this cycle; nevertheless, it does make for a great song with a catchy chorus, signature indie rock instrumentals, and a few lines that might cause a chuckle or two.
How Am I Still Alive? is the only song with a feature on the EP, and it features no one other than Lydia Night of The Regrettes, who Hibberd opened for on their last UK tour. It’s no surprise that these two would collaborate on a track since they’re good friends and the end result is spectacular.
Night and Hibberd make an enthralling combo that bounces off of each other effortlessly as they sing about being so disinterested in someone who couldn’t care less they make fantasies about the life they really wanted (as for Lauran, the life she wanted might be with Michael Cera based on the subtle Juno reference).
Chock full of spunky riffs, a chorus worthy of a headbang, and a delightful mid-track breakdown to slow things down before bringing things back to fruition — it’s quite a notable moment in the EP.
The second half of the album takes a bit of a lighter tone in terms of rock but nowhere near making it dull. The fourth track on the EP, Boy Bye, is the last of the previously released songs.
Men who suck seem to be a common theme in Lauran’s life as she forfeits everything she has just to realize she might not truly get herself back. She’s realized this situation is a nuisance and is — quite literally — singing “Boy bye” while trying to make it end.
This track has a bit of a different instrumental composition than the other three tracks prior; it has a major focus on a simple yet effective drum beat in its verses until the guitar(s) kick in by the time the chorus hits a sucker punch.
While there’s a bit less satire than one might expect at this point, it’s important to have a track light Boy Bye to show that Lauran can be real about the things she writes about. Be warned, though; if you find yourself relating to Lauran when she says, “You’re lucky that I hate myself enough / To give you everything that I set up”, let this song be a lesson to you not to do it.
Crush is another song that has a more classic indie rock style when it comes to its instrumental but it never feels like a repeat of Boy Bye or gets boring. It’s reminiscent of an older Avril Lavinge middle album track that could easily make waves on alternative radio.
Anyone who has looked back on a relationship and realized how unsatisfying it was will find something relatable in Crush. The title might lead the listener to think it’s going to be a positive, lovey number, but Lauran does a sly bit of wordplay (“In my hands / I crushed it / I felt strong when it split”). Crushing this relationship that isn’t going anywhere was the right thing to do, even if it crushed someone else.
You Never Looked So Cool is all about odd dreams that contain a certain someone that we don’t know. If anyone can make a dream about dying in the seventies a sweet sentiment about anything, it’s Lauran. The most acoustic-leaning song on the album, it serves as a wonderful closer to Goober.
For as much as she can be witty and even perhaps slightly — and rightfully so — brash, Lauran knows how to slow it down. Warm, rounded out and stripped in a fantastic composition, You Never Looked So Cool is another highlight of the EP, and of Lauran’s complete discography. It’s quite different from where the EP began, yet it leaves you wanting the project to not be at its end.
If there is anything essential to take away from Goober, it’s that Lauran Hibberd certainly has her own style and the range to back it up. It can be hard to stand out in the British music scene but she makes it look effortless.
If you’re craving a listen that is a guaranteed good time, Goober is the music to choose. When you’re done, feel free to have a glance at her handful of singles and her debut EP Everything is Dogs. Grasping how talented and spunky she is will only make you realize she has nowhere else to go from here but up.