By Cassidy Byrnes

On Friday, September 22nd, Briston Maroney released his anticipated second LP, Ultrapure, under Atlantic Records. If Maroney doesn’t sound familiar, you’ll probably know him from his 2020 breakthrough single, “Freakin’ Out On the Interstate,” which became trendy on TikTok and was where I was first introduced to him. 

After “Freakin’ Out On the Interstate” did laps in my playlists, I discovered his 2019 EP, Indiana and became completely obsessed. Consisting of only four songs, the EP achieves a feeling of gut-wrenching nostalgia that I equate with seeing a high school classmate when visiting your hometown. The production on the EP is quite a bit different than his 2021 album, Sunflower. While Indiana leans more into the indie-folk, Big Thief-eque sound, Sunflower feels extremely alternative with heavier drums and an angstier vocal performance. I will say, Sunflower is not my favorite project of his so I was a little nervous as to what direction this new project, Ultrapure, would be taking. 

Ultrapure, as Maroney promised in several Instagram posts and lives, would be his most honest and heartfelt release to date. I think he lived up to this, as well as keeping with the more alternative sound that was heard on Sunflower. I got a sense of what he was talking about with the release of the first single for the album, “Body.” This track is all about embracing the things that cannot be changed and living for the now, “Someday, my body will be just a body / And a big white light before me lets me know these days will end / But I got today and the only plan I’ve made / Is to love like I might never get to love someone again.” The anxiety that comes from giving someone all of your love waxes and wanes throughout the LP with some tracks like “Detonator” expressing the worst parts of this anxiety. Then there are some like the title track, “Ultrapure,” that embrace the anxiety for what it is; a fear of losing that special person. “Sunburn Fades,” is another single that sticks out to me. It seems to be the same theme as “Body” but takes the more self-destructive, pessimistic side. It feels like he is describing the struggles of being in your twenties and not really knowing the direction of your life, but the people you surround yourself with make it all worth it. 

There are fun moments on the album as well, with many of them having a happier feel due to the production. Ultrapure was produced by Daniel Tashian, who has most notably worked with Kacey Musgraves. “Chaos Party,” is your typical alt-pop track with a boppy drumline and a catchy chorus that will definitely get stuck in your head. My favorite production moment on the LP is in the track “Breathe,” which has a great bass and guitar line as well as a really snappy snare. “Spring” is another light moment on the album where Maroney gives us a glimpse into his relationship with fellow musician, Samia. “I know love is blind / Sleep through the morning / We can take our time / I’m gonna make her my queen / Little white church on the first day of spring.” It’s clear that their relationship has had a huge impact on Maroney’s life and in turn, his music. 

Maroney has really bared his soul on this project and is showing a very grand evolution which has surpassed the trendy TikTok single. Being able to write as honestly about love and living as he does on this album is no small feat and I want to commend him for sharing that with us. Ultrapure is a note to oneself that everything will turn out okay and a big, understanding hug to anyone who is experiencing life. 

Briston Maroney will be touring the U.S. in spring 2024 and will be making a stop at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Feburary 10th. Be sure to check out Ultrapure anywhere you stream your music and grab some tickets cause it’ll be a fun show.