Review: Brace Faces Everyone by Spanish Love Songs

Brave Faces Everyone

by Spanish Love Songs

8 Spins out of 10

In the face of life’s seemingly inescapable cycles, pessimism is easier than optimism. So, it’s stronger, braver, and more formidable to be continually optimistic in the face of repeated despair—continually optimistic, not constantly. This is the lesson explored by Los Angeles, California’s Spanish Love Songs on their album Brave Faces Everyone on Pure Noise Records. When your faith is tested, their lyrics and emotional delivery acknowledge how challenging it is to swallow the pill that “it can’t be this bleak forever”.

To me, this album is not as good as their 2017 A-F Records release Schmaltz, but I still appreciate being able to hear another release by Spanish Love Songs. Brave Faces Everyone provides more hopeful content to binge at the start of a new decade. I discovered this band with the release of Schmaltz which quickly became one of those newly released albums that I kept on obsessive repeat. That album’s immediate appeal plus how long it stuck with me make it an undeniable 10 Spins out of 10. This is embarrassingly revealing but I find relatable themes in the lyrics that are arguably narcissistically introspective, no matter how self-aware. However, the lyrics are heartfelt and reassuring for any other anxiety-driven overthinkers out there. This band just might inspire you to get up off the ground when you’re lying down thinking “the world’s gonna kick you either way.” They don’t just keep those emotions inside. They write it down and belt it out for audiences to find their own meaning in. Pairing these types of vocals with simple, catchy, and sometimes anthemic (pop-)punk instrumentation adds another blankety layer of comfort in the face of an uncomfortable world.

Brave Faces Everyone picks up where Schmaltz left off and listeners will enjoy the same relatable elements. Where this newer release differs is that it feels less inspired by long-lived experiences through a nostalgic and self-deprecating lens. Although still self-deprecating at times, there is more hope in this album. Perhaps embarrassing again, the reason I find BFE less relatable may actually be due to the respectable amount of optimism underlying the sad themes of life’s hardships. This is respectable because optimism and hope are more difficult to accomplish than pessimism and despair. Being a pessimistic audience to art may be my own shortcoming. Optimism from a gritty perspective on life is Spanish Love Songs’ accomplishment.

I still find Schmaltz a more enjoyable listen that haunts me all the way to my marrow. But, if you’re in desperate need for some realistic optimism in 2020 give Brave Faces Everyone a spin.