In Her Own Words released their third album Distance Or Decay on May 27th, the follow-up to Steady Glow from 2019. They are touring the U.S this summer as support for Tiny Moving Parts and This Wild Life. The tour begins in Chicago on June 9th and ends July 30th in Lawrence, Kansas, giving fans plenty of time to see them live and hear the new songs during the summer.
The album opens with the track “Circles”, featuring Derek DiScanio of State Champs. The song is a strong opener for the album, talking about a relationship that seems to be unhealthy, but stuck in a never-ending cycle. “Leaving Forever” is the perfect song to follow, stating that the narrator is leaving the aforementioned bad relationship. The song takes on a heavier sound, reflecting the emotional turmoil that likely went into the decision. “Lights Out” can be interpreted as the acceptance and goodbye to the relationship. This song is a strong pop-punk song and sure to be a fan favorite live song once the tour begins this summer.
“Daydream” is a song about regret and letting someone go. This upbeat song is followed closely by the song “I Still Feel You In The Air”. This track is an interlude that takes a lyric from the previous song and emphasizes it by making it the only one sung on the interlude. The songs flow so well together that it almost sounds like one long song when they are played in order.
“One Thing You Should Know” feels like a warm hug, especially the lyrics “There’s just one thing you should know, you can always come back home”. They’re a powerful reassurance that no matter what choices a person makes, someone will always be there for them, regardless of the circumstances. It’s a beautiful song and it transitions well into the next track, “Miracle.” “Miracle” is a love song to a person who has brought not only support, but someone who makes the narrator feel safe. They have a once in a lifetime bond, hence the title, and the song could be a tribute to both lovers and close friends.
“Raining in Toronto” shifts the tone of the album back to a heavier sound, and has a feature from Jonathan Vigil of The Ghost Inside. The harder vocals perfectly match the song, which is an emotional one about the failings of a relationship where the narrator tried to make a doomed situation work. “Ghost” is an acoustic track about a past relationship, but this one follows the path of regret and yearning. There’s a subtle reference to their past album Steady Glow by including the title in the song.
“Caving In” asks the other party to make a decision about the state of their relationship. Neither party is who the other wants, yet they find themselves having a hard time staying away from the other. “Footprints” is an acoustic song featuring Sierra Annie about wishing the best for someone who is no longer in their life. The song has a nostalgic overtone, and is the perfect way to close out the album and the chapter of the narrator’s life.
Distance or Decay is the perfect album to showcase In Her Own Words’ range and musical talents. It’s an album that draws from many different influences and manages to create something unique. It’s a strong contender for album of the year, and may be one of my personal favorite releases so far. This album can be listened to anywhere you stream music, and may possibly be coming to a city near you this summer!
