Seattle’s own The Sleepy Haunts burst back onto the scene with BLOOM, which is the musical metamorphosis of your favorite worn-out diary—raw, reflective, and packed with late-night overthinking set to killer melodies. Led by Gillian McMahon’s effortlessly expressive vocals, the band blends 2000s alt-rock angst with modern indie shimmer, channeling the likes of Alanis Morissette and The Cranberries while carving out their own space in the sonic landscape.
The album kicks off with “why do i feel this way?”—an earworm of a track that captures the sting of professional jealousy with an irresistible mix of shimmering guitars and McMahon’s smooth yet vulnerable delivery. You don’t want to feel like this, but man, you do, and the song lets you revel in it. The chorus is the catharsis you look for.
Then there’s “twenty,” a certified anthem for every young adult fumbling through life. With a swaggering guitar intro that oozes attitude, McMahon leans into her deepest, most sultry range before unleashing a chorus that practically soars over the gritty instrumentals. “I can’t even find a job / Nothing that will pay enough” might just be the most painfully relatable lyric of the decade. It’s going to get you scream-sing in your car at a red light, consequences be damned.
And let’s talk about “medea.” Opening with a twangy, almost mischievous riff, it turns to McMahon singing with this exasperated flair, like she’s giving a modern-day Greek tragedy its own angst-ridden soundtrack. She sings, “My horoscope said that I/Could lose good friends tonight…” Sounds fair, to be honest.
Every track on BLOOM pulses with emotion, making you feel like you’re navigating adulthood right alongside the band. The Sleepy Haunts have bottled up your quarter-life crisis and are now handing it back to you wrapped in addictive hooks. Stay tuned for more such bangs in future.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan