On September 19, a new music group, The Favors, released their first studio album, “The Dream.” A duo consisting of solo artists Ashe and FINNEAS, they first publicly collaborated on the major hit single “Till Forever Falls Apart” in 2021. I anticipated this album’s release as soon as they dropped their first single, “The Little Mess You Made,” which perfectly blends a funky new pop sound with a classic rock style reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. This was a great start for the debut of the group.
Prior to the release of “The Dream,” the group released another two singles — which some might consider excessive considering the 13 total songs. Though I found “Times Square Jesus” and “The Hudson” initially underwhelming compared to the first song, I gained appreciation for their sound qualities over time. I especially grew fond of the poetic lyricism in the song “The Hudson,” in which Ashe and FINNEAS sing: “I’d catch a cold if it makes you warm / The lake was frozen and so were we.”
Upon the release of the complete album, I was thrilled to finally compare all of the songs. I definitely favored some songs more than others. I thought the lyrics on “Necessary Evils” were genius, but when I heard the more traditional song, “Moonshine,” the styles seemed conflicting.
Overall, the album felt more thematically complex than I was expecting. Though the album is a varied collection of exceptional songs individually, they don’t necessarily feel cohesive. I give this album an overall rating of 4/5 Big Oles, and I would recommend everyone give a listen to “The Little Mess You Made.”