Album Review: "You'll Be Alright, Kid" Chapter 2. - Alex Warren

Pic Creds: Apple Music

Alex Warren has taken the pop music culture by storm. With smashing hits like "Chasing Shadows" and "Carry You Home" Alex Warren has become a household name. His new album "You'll Be Alright Kid" chapter 2 has given his fans something to look forward to this summer and it did not disappoint. Enough chit chat, let's dive right in and talk summer jams.

Tracklist

Eternity

The Outside

First Time On Earth

Bloodline (with Jelly Roll)

Never Be Far

Ordinary

Everything

Getaway Car

Who I Am

You Can't Stop This

On My Mind (Alex Warren & ROSÉ)

Alex Warren is a California native who has had to overcome many obstacles to reach stardom. He made a name for himself by first being recognized for his entertaining videos with his wife Kovur on TikTok. Alex Warren helped found and run a collaborative TikTok group called the Hype House. After a singing video of his gained traction he began taking his singing career seriously and has since released numerous hit songs and toured all over the country. When asked about his new album Alex Warren said, "The first half was like, hey, I'm broken and this is why, and here's all the things that have happened in my life, and here's also me finding love. The second one's like, hey, this is who I am now, this is where I am now, and this is how I've been able to heal."

Eternity

We start strong with the song "Eternity" which gives us a glimpse into navigating grief after loss. There's a beautiful mix of ethereal and pop tones. Almost like a mystical yet surreal beat that pulls us into the raw emotion that Alex is communicating with us. Whether you've experienced personal loss and grief, or you're trying to relate directly to Alex, he has made grief a physical, tangible feeling with "Eternity." One of the strongest lyrics within this song says, "To be with you in paradise / What I wouldn't sacrifice / Why'd you have to chase the light / Somewhere I can't go? / As I walk this world alone." It's heart wrenching to miss someone to this degree and Alex Warren paints it so perfectly for us.

The Outside

Song two is the beginning of two worlds colliding. We get two different perspectives. A boy who lives paycheck to paycheck, not really sure where life is going and a girl who's actively searching for more out of life. What makes "The Outside" unique is the way it echoes from each perspective. Both boy and girl are searching for some glimpse of hope or some deeper connection/meaning. The chorus conveys this to us so clearly when it says, "Could you give me a reason, give me a sign? / Cause I'm down and out of my mind / Is there someone out there to throw me down a lifeline?" This starts and active search for healing, growth, and companionship.

First Time On Earth

By song three we're grasping the depths of the hurt being processed. There's a maturity that is visible within Alex Warren. The song talks about growing up and understanding that "It's your first time on Earth too." Meaning that as humans we're subject to making mistakes, the most important thing is being able to forgive. The lyrics are soaked not only in reflection but also forgiveness and sincerity. The instrumentation echoes and builds upon this theme as well, starting slow with mellowed guitar and building with pops of drums and keyboard. Personally, my favorite line of the song says, "It's just pain that you were passing down / I'm older, and see it now / It's your first time on Earth too." I can draw connections with growing older and forgiving what others couldn't prevent.

Bloodline (with Jelly Roll)

When "Bloodline" rolls around we're already wrestling with our own strength. How do you overcome, heal, and conquer the demons that have held you down for generations? "Bloodline" puts it in the most beautifully simple way. We don't have to follow in our bloodline. We can be generational curse breakers. Alex Warren and Jelly Roll give us an example of what pushing through looks like, what breaking trauma cycles looks like. The instrumentation gives us a sense of power. We tap our foot along to the beat because it's catchy, it cultivates a spirit of change within us. With powerhouse lyrics like, "That storm keeps on raging / But don't you forget / God's not done with you yet," it's hard not to be hopeful.

Never Be Far

I think it's nearly impossible to look back at our younger selves and not miss who we were. That's exactly what "Never Be Far" is about. We see self reflection and reminiscing, missing certain moments of your past. Alex Warren makes it clear that just because life goes on doesn't mean we have to forget where we've come from. We get a hopeful and future focused tone. Each word, each line, drenched in hopeful reflection and promise for what's to come. Lines like, "Oh, I promise, wherever I carry your heart with me / I'll never be far, never be far from / Home, home / Home, home," put an emphasis on the deep connection and the sincerity regarding moving forward and holding space for the younger you.

Ordinary

At this point we're seeing the story fall together. We're back to two worlds colliding, loving someone who feels out of this world extraordinary. Earlier in the album we experience "The Outside" which is an active search for something or someone more. Now with "Ordinary" that searching is complete. The artist has found the one who completes him. We understand the overwhelming feeling of true love and what it means to hold forever in your heart together. With the idea of heaven being tied into the song we get another ethereal vibe. A powerhouse beat with serious yet positive tone that explores the depths of love. While also giving us adorable lyrics like, "The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowing we found / Something so out of the ordinary / You got me kissing the ground of your sanctuary / Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust."

Everything

After "Ordinary" we're set in motion to move forward with the love of our life. We recognize that this is the shift for Alex Warren. He's now past wrestling with what it looks like to heal, and he's actively walking out life healing and thriving with the love of his life. "Everything" is a ballad that reassures and proves just how much love means to him. Alex is essentially saying 'if I don't have you then I don't have anything.' Which is both beautiful and raw. The instrumentation is classical, slow but romantic like a slow flame. He professes how much she means to him when he says, "If you're not here, what would I be? / Darlin, don't take your love from me / I could live without, oh, just about anything / But if I lose you, darlin, then I lose everything." Further proving to us how deeply he feels for his significant other.

Getaway Car

Even after the healing process has begun it can be hard to push through adversity and hard situations "Getaway Car" paints this concept perfectly. While actively building a better life for himself there is still a little voice preying on his downfall. I think I speak for myself and numerous others when I say that this is a common feeling for everyone. When you're in a position that has you actively thriving, there can still be little seedlings of doubt or fear. The tone of the song allows us to connect and feel that concept in depth. The upbeat and crazy guitar riffs and the bursting drum beats give off the saucy tone associated with those feelings. My favorite line of the song says, "The Devil's catching up to my getaway car / Always in my ear saying 'You're no winner' / If I blow this shot, then you'll pull that trigger." You can visualize the active battle between fear and hope.

Who I Am

"Who I Am" is a breathtaking ballad filled with question and hard hitting emotion. It's a reflection and deep dive into who Alex is. Alex Warren is being open and honest in the most raw way he knows how to be, by explaining exactly how he views himself. There's a relatability that makes it easy for the listeners to connect with him. Being the butt of the joke so it hurts less is a common experience. We strive to hurt less, if we hurt ourselves first then the damage is already done. The question that is pressing in the song is 'Who am I to you?' We know how we view ourselves but how do others see us? Some of the lines prod us to think deeper. One of my favorite lyrics says, "I need to let somebody down, but I'm somebody / I'm somebody / I need to let somebody down / So, tell me, tell me, tell me / Who I am to you." I've come to understand that Alex Warren wants to be understood too and that's perfectly okay.

You Can't Stop This

Now we're nearing the end and we're going out with a bang. This powerhouse song tells us directly that we can't stop Alex Warren's progress, it's only up from here. There's a finality, a confidence. We know how hard Alex has worked for this moment and he's taking a minute to soak it all in. Right off the bat he talks about how hard he worked to get where he is when he says, "I had a dream, I had a vision / I had to work for this, and you didn't / I had to bleed, still got the stitches." Not saying that others worked less for what they have, but rather proudly saying that he's fought for everything he's had. He has numerous reason to be proud. The upbeat, intense instrumentation gives us the 'champion' or 'king of the world' vibe tying the song together beautifully.

On My Mind

We end on a mellow note. A hopeful outlook remembering and holding love dearly. There's a melding together of all the emotions talked about throughout the album. Alex is actively holding healing and hurt in both hands, balancing them out, and holding space for it all. The song talks specifically about love and how the people he's loved are still on his mind. My favorite lyrics from this song say, "Maybe it's the way the clouds are painted a perfect shade of yellow all across the sky / Maybe it's the way the times are changing, and I'm stuck in the middle, frozen in a fire / But, baby, you're on my mind." There's a wholesome, hopeful feel that allows us to smile knowing that Alex has overcome. The pacing of the song is slower than some of the other songs, but it's meant to provide the sweetness that comes with resolution and it does just that.

Alex Warren has wormed his way into my heart and I fear he'll never leave. Although, I don't think I want him to. The album was beautifully crafted, packed full of raw emotion, and hopeful undertones which is what we all need. Alex never missed a beat, he was right on the money, proving yet again that you can mix many different music mediums and create a lyrical masterpiece. I encourage you all to sit down and listen to "You'll Be Alright, Kid" chapter 2. You won't regret it.

Written By Destiny Rundquist

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