Review Score:

A-

July 18 / 2025 –

While the album art might suggest a childlike whimsy, Headlights is actually something of the opposite. Past projects might have had more exploratory songwriting focused on storytelling – think “Bobby” or “Powerful Man” – but on his 10th studio album, Alex G spends a lot of time thinking about life.

Headlights is Alex G’s most sonically consistent album in years. He boxes up a lot of the vocal effects and noise in favor of some more meditative songwriting and raw instrumentation. And I think it works. My two favorite tracks off of his last album, God Save the Animals, were “Runner” and “Miracles”, both of which were primarily stripped back, acoustic ballads. But at their core, they were still Alex G songs. Both tracks maintained some of his signature mystique with their cryptic, alluring lyricism. And despite what I said about Alex G’s more straightforward, earnest, acoustic songwriting, there are still some examples of his that true Alex G style to be found here. “Louisiana” is eerie, and evokes a haunting scene on some dirty beach. The following track, “Bounce Boy”, is anything but stripped back. It’s a surprisingly catchy track driven by a synth hook that sounds like sandpaper (in a good way).

Just when you think you know what to expect from this project, just when you think you know the twists and turns the album will take you down, “Far and Wide” comes up in the tracklist. Here, Alex G sings with a truly baffling intonation. He sounds downright goofy, but still somehow sincere. It’s as if he’s imitating a Muppet. And even still you aren’t ready for the rest of the album’s twists. “Is It Still You In There?” is some real Vince Guaraldi type music. You can really picture Charlie Brown with his chin on his hands, leaning on a stone wall and waxing poetic about how nothing ever works out. 

The album concludes with a track recorded live with his touring band. It might seem a strange choice, but his reasoning behind it is sweet. Recorded in a hotel in Philadelphia with his backing band, Alex G just wanted to include it because he appreciates them – as talented musicians and as his people.

For all it’s unexpected moments, Alex G still manages to capture some emotion previously unseen. Every time I hear a new Alex G album, it scratches an itch I didn’t know I needed scratched. Some longtime fans might find this album lacking in some of those truly bizarre, left-field Alex G moments, but to my ears, this has more of what I was left seeking after God Save the Animals, and I’m pleased.

Review Score:

A-

Gubb wrote this review. You can’t get mad at Gubb.