{"id":65622,"date":"2018-07-12T19:01:05","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T18:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=65622"},"modified":"2018-07-12T19:01:05","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T18:01:05","slug":"review-real-friends-composure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-real-friends-composure\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Real Friends – Composure"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Real<\/p>\n

Ever since emerging out of Illinois with a handful of impressive EP’s, Real Friends<\/strong>‘ have never quite matched the same urgency and passion of their earlier work. However, on their third full-length, ‘Composure,’<\/em> they have come into their own with a set of radiant and emotional songs, carried with a host of memorable hooks.<\/p>\n

For the members of Real Friends<\/strong>, 2017 proved to be a testing year, especially for vocalist Dan Lambton. With a history of manic episodes, insomnia, and panic attacks, Lambton’s relationship with his bandmates became strained, resulting in a brief yet quiet hiatus. Nevertheless, thanks to the support of the band and their label, Lambton would be eventually be diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder.<\/p>\n

Having reconvened, ‘Composure’<\/em> is Real Friends<\/strong> at their most honest with Lambton’s troubles serving as the lyrical catalyst. From escaping his problems (‘Me First’<\/em>), pretending everything is fine (‘From The Outside’<\/em> and ‘Smiling On The Surface’<\/em>) and losing trust (‘Ripcord’<\/em>), Lambton’s struggles build a brave, occasionally relatable, narrative.<\/p>\n