Better Luck Next Year is the first ever full EP by D.C. trio Cal Rifkin. Freshly signed to Really Rad Records, the band have captured the hearts of fans with their upbeat songs and simple-yet-emotive lyrics. It’s the perfect EP for hopeless romantics that thrive in the summer, which sounds a bit niche until you realize that demographic includes most of today’s young people.
“Down South” introduces you to the band with a muted version of “1, 2, 1 2 3 4!” from the rhythm guitar before jumping straight into the verse, with sugary vocals accentuated by surfer vocal harmonies and the kind of fuzzy guitar tone that itches your brain just right.
“Break My Heart” invites you in with a catchy riff before the lyrics begin: “I’m more into you, than you’re into me / so I play it cool, and I just let it be.” The chorus is accentuated with stops and starts that make sure to keep you on your toes.
Opening with a huge riff, “I Know I Can’t Stay” tells the story of a bleeding heart that’s realized it needs to move on, but you almost wouldn’t know that unless you paid attention to the lyrics because of the way the grunge-esque instrumentation captures you. Powerful without being overbearing, Cal Rifkin made damn sure not to fall into a middle-of-the-album lull.
A return to the surfer-esque style of music that the band is known for, the eponymous “Better Luck Next Year” is a bit toned down from the rest of the album, allowing you to sit back and soak in the ways that the guitar and bass parts work around each other on the verses.
“Skater Vidz” is an upbeat tune that makes you think of hanging out with your crush at the end of summer, right before school is about to start up. Inventive yet nostalgic, it’s the perfect closer to this EP.
Clocking in at just under 15 minutes, Better Luck Next Year is just what we needed for summer 2023.
