Dear Seattle is a band that may be unfamiliar to many, but they have been steadily gathering a following since their 2013 inception. The Sydney quartet already has 2 e.ps and full length albums in their arsenal. Toy is their third and follows 2022’s Someday.
Toy is not the kind of album you would expect to be dropping in the middle of January when the world is dark & grey. This is an album built for long summer nights, hangs with friends and the feel of sunshine on your face.
While there is a harshness to some of the albums lyrics and themes, the music on display is full of warmth and youthful energy. Nothing’s Stopping Me Now comes crashing through the speakers like a tidal, all 00’s emo vibes and the kind of chorus that even a lobotomy couldn’t get out of your head.
Promise and Courtney Love are both pure SoCal Pop Punk nostalgia, while still remaining refreshingly modern sounding. Evergreen is a sublime slice of widescreen melancholia. Elastic is all bruising balladry and heart on sleeve lyrics that is tailor made for live audiences to scream their lungs out to.
idc is very aptly titled, a middle finger ode to wasted youth and looking back at the world through the eyes of your teenage self. Reckless Pessimistic is a bouncy sugary anthem that sees the off album in delirious fashion.
Toy is an album that showcases how far Dear Seattle has come as a band. They continue to go from strength and as they mature, so does their songwriting along with them. There are so many things on this album to love, whether it’s the earnest relatability of the lyrics or the album’s overall sound that tickles that nostalgic part of my brain. Fusing together all the best elements of pop punk, midwest emo and 90’s alt rock then running it through their own creative filter. It will take you back to the good old days, but never feels dated or forced.
Dear Seattle has delivered one of 2025’s first big surprises with Toy. An album that will put some colour in your cheeks in these cold winter months and will have you reaching for the replay button over and over again. If there’s any justice then 2025 will be their big breakout year.
Toy is out now via Domestic La La records.
