Wollongong quartet Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks soundtrack a friends-to-lovers romance on indie-rock banger Dumb Decisions.
Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks have relented to a doomed situationship on Dumb Decisions, a new single which chronicles the risky act of getting romantically involved with a friend.
Opening with Alex Fordyce’s twangy guitar strings, the single is at once an acoustic ballad and an indie-pop anthem, as guided by Lizzie’s raw and rustic vocal performance.
Setting the scene with slow-going percussion courtesy of the band’s new drummer Paul Pozzachio, Dumb Decisions recalls the story of a sharehouse meet-cute at a 21st birthday party, which went on to become a years-long romance between commitment-phobic friends.
This rich storytelling is soundtracked by a band who’ve clearly mastered their craft and sonic lane, as Dumb Decisions brims with fuzz rock grooves and euphoric build-up choruses.
Punk, folk and the staples of Australian rock are worthy descriptors for the track, with the Beanstalks even making multiple references to kindred bands within the lyrics.
There’s mentions of Violent Soho, Tame Impala and Gang of Youths, but there’s a repertoire of other musicians whom the Beanstalks might also call peers.
Whether its Lizzie’s talky delivery à la Stella Donnelly or the vivid lyricism akin to Suzi or The Smith Street Band, Dumb Decisions sits comfortably among Australia’s music upper echelons, but it’s the band’s songwriting ability that shines the brightest.
Here, the Wollongong four-piece paint tangible portraits of second-hand couches and Sunday morning hangovers, creating evocative vignettes which form the backdrop of the universal tale of a friends-to-lovers romance.
While there’s relatable barbs littered throughout — including a mention of the all-too common type who doesn’t “really do relationships” — Lizzie also showcases an emotional vulnerability, with a particularly sympathetic image of “walk[ing] home with my shoes in my hand” and vowing to “change his mind next weekend.”
What began as a “drunken mistake” later becomes a happily ever after, as Lizzie recounts the pair’s adoption of a rescue dog in what turned out to be “the best dumb decision I ever made.”
In this moment of triumph, the band introduces catchy call-and-response choirs and explosive instrumentation for a belter of a final chorus.
Nostalgic and heartfelt without sacrificing head-bangning potential, Dumb Decisions is a worthy addition to the Beanstalks’ growing catalogue of bangers, from the folk balladry of Before I Go to the punk anthem PYRAMID SCHEME.
Listen to Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks’ new single Dumb Decisions below, and be sure to catch the band for their set at this year’s Yours & Owls festival.
