Brigitte Calls Me Baby

Andrew Ross, contributor, and host of Spin This!

Brigitte Calls Me Baby's sophomore album Irreversible (released via ATO Records) arrives with high expectations after their buzzworthy 2024 debut The Future Is Our Way Out. The Chicago quintet, led by the unmistakable croon of Wes Leavins, continues leaning into their signature blend of new wave revivalism, indie pop shimmer, and retro-romantic drama. It's ambitious, often gorgeous, and undeniably confident, but it doesn't quite land every punch.

 

The highs are there. Tracks like the lead single "Slumber Party" deliver that propulsive guitar drive and Leavins' soaring, Morrissey-meets-The Killers vocal style in full force, creating an immediate hook that feels both nostalgic and fresh. "I Danced With Another Love In My Dream" brings a dreamy, synth-laced melancholy that's one of the album's most affecting moments, layering atmospheric textures over heartfelt longing. The 80's pulsating synth of the track "These Acts of Which We're Designed" glides on a smoky veil of romantic lust. Closer "Send Those Memories" is a dramatic ballad that sticks the landing, providing a poignant, cinematic send-off that truly lingers.Yet for all its strengths, Irreversible occasionally feels like it's trying too hard to recapture (or expand on) the debut's magic without fully breaking new ground. Some mid-album cuts, like "The Pit" or "There's Always," lean heavily on familiar tropes—jangly guitars, big choruses, existential crooning—without the same spark that made songs like "Impressively Average" pop so vividly last time around. The retro influences (The Smiths, New Order, early Cars) are worn proudly, but at points they border on homage rather than reinvention, making certain stretches feel safe rather than bold. The emotional depth is there, but it can get buried under layers of polish; a little more raw edge or unpredictability might have elevated the whole thing from "very good" to "essential." 

 

Overall, I feel this is a solid step forward for a band still ascending, but where does their sound go from here? More of what works, or continue to peel away the layers that unpredictability offers. All in all, if you're already in love with their lavish alt-rock world, Irreversible will satisfy. If you're hoping for a giant leap beyond their established sound, it might leave you wanting just a bit more.