Album Review: I Don’t Want You Anymore – Cherry Glazerr

Before its September release, I Don’t Want You Anymore was introduced with three singles: “Soft Like A Flower,” “Ready For You,” and “Sugar.” 

“Soft Like A Flower” only received a visualizer, a creative decision fitting for the song. The visualizer showcases a montage of Creevy in nature accompanied by the lyrics. 

“Fortune, it turns like a wheel/I like you killing me”

The drums really pull this song together, though quite simple, they perfectly compliment the lyrics and pleasing, melodic notes from the guitars with every snare hit. Sometimes, when singles are chosen and released, they are not always the best representation of what is to come upon a release; “Soft Like A Flower” sets the table with its nicest cloth and centerpieces. 

Due to the fact I will talk about this one in a moment, I won’t say too much here. That being said, “Ready For You” was definitely the single which holds the spot for having my favorite everything. The music video, the chorus, the beginning instrumentals, etc. all of which are top tier to my ears.

“Sugar” was the last single to be released for I Don’t Want You Anymore. The track features a darker, brooding tone in comparison. The guitars really piece this song together, completely enchanting every aspect of the track when they make it to the front of the mix.

“You make me want to crawl away/I’m so ashamed, I’m not this way”

The track ends with cracked laughter from Creevy, an ominous end to a song about not being able to reject the pull of a lover.

Originally, I listed five songs to highlight as album stand-outs, but five songs is about half of the tracklist so I cut it down ever so slightly. There is no bad song, in my opinion; I genuinely feel like all songs belong and sensationalize the album themes so greatly that it wouldn’t feel complete without each and every one. 

My personal first introduction to the world of Cherry Glazerr and my favorite from their 2023 release is “Ready For You.” The upbeat, slightly more “poppier” sound of the drums and bass in the song’s beginning is immediately engaging. Truly though, it’s the chorus that really pulls me in and is the reason as to why this song has been kept on repeat; the way Creevy approaches the vocals to this track is so incredibly satisfying. And as a single, I think it is one of the best representations of the album.

“I’m sick inside my twisted mind, I wish I was ready for you.”

The record tends to go back and forth (fittingly) from blaming and missing the other person, to blaming and internalizing the actions and sabotaging tendencies of oneself. Ready For You is a perfect instance of the latter, as the lyrics go on to prove.

Admittedly a dive into a more uplifting-sound, fueled by casual studio conversation, “Wild Times” diverts from the pessimistic and longing sound of tracks surrounding, into a little over four minutes of a good, carefree time. 

“I said I need you, but you don’t need me and I’m free/With dirty hands, you can have all of my life’s memories/‘cause I wanted you”

Sandwiched between the album singles is “Touched You With My Chaos.” Musically, this song isn’t exactly my cup of tea, aside from the beautiful strings in the outro. I can’t pinpoint whether it’s the overall production of this song or merely the vocal mixing, but even after several listens, it is one of the very few that doesn’t sonically hit the mark for me. However, that factor may totally be intentional on Creevy and Rothman’s part, I know my fair share of songs where such is done on purpose, so if that is the case…respect. Lyrically, however, it just might be my favorite. Rather than the mental havoc of wanting someone who doesn’t want you back, Creevy puts the blame on herself. 

“Sorry to the people that I sucked into my world”

This one isn’t even partially about a romantic relationship, but can be seen as being about relationships with those around. Friends, family, past and current partners. She apologizes for, as the title permits, touching one with her chaos, manipulating the entrance into her world despite that person(s) not being what she genuinely needs or even wants, rather merely being something she could do. The repeating “I told you I loved you/I said that I loved you/I never wanted love” throughout the track are lyrics so simple but through Creevy’s vocals, encompass the essence of fearful and anxious emotions.

Lastly, as an honorable mention is “Shattered,” a track I like to describe as the song most perfect for dark-room ceiling gazing.

And maybe I am making more out of it than Creevy intended, maybe I’m hearing a completely different story in each song than what they’re actually based on or about, but the beauty of music is that it is pretty much all open to interpretation anyway once it is all out to the world. Whatever story accompanies this album has a fantastic soundtrack to it.

The entire record though, does remind me quite a bit of Meg Myers’ Take Me To The Disco (2018). In this case, it’s more the lingering essence of each respective album and of course, the slight familiarity of sound, with akin vocals from both artists sparking the comparison to my ears. While Meg’s has a fuller tone throughout that album, Creevy’s brings out more of the rawness; if I could say it another way, I Don’t Want You Anymore is the striking skeletal insides of Take Me To The Disco. Maybe I’m the only one who hears it, but it’s a sense I can’t shake. Also, if it wasn’t clear, I love Meg Myers and the aforementioned is my favorite album of hers. 

For this final dive is “I Don’t Want You Anymore.” Although there are lyrics throughout this album which make it seem like the  cycle is soon to be over, the album closer, which just so happens to be the title track as well, rejects all prior notions of this cycle ending anytime soon. Simply put, the lyrics tell a different story than the title may permit. 

“Always find a place for you throughout my life/No cure for me”

The album title gives an almost completely different expectation of what is to be entailed within each song. That being said, I think it’s a great diversion of expectations (for those who take album titles into account). You might think it’ll be about the journey of getting over someone, not wanting them anymore. Instead it points toward being about the cycle of going back to what isn’t good for you, pushing the people around you away, assuming you never wanted someone in the first place and it’s all a product of your own mental faults, and since it was never real, the back and forth of emotions will be over. Only to realize, in the end, there is no stopping the cycle, there is always going to be a place for the unfortunate in a reckless mind. Despite gloomy themes for the majority, it’s quite a therapeutic listen; having music sharing the innermost thoughts that go on inside is a relieving release for both creator and listeners. The album as a whole is total exposure of Creevy’s mind and heart. All in all, this is one of the best albums to have accompanying the earlier sunsets and dark mornings of the fall and winter seasons. Whether you want to see the record from the perspective of a battle against one’s own mind, a long-ago ended relationship, whatever interpretation it may be, Cherry Glazerr’s I Don’t Want You Anymore is 36 minutes of straight indie, garage rock selections.

“There’s this feeling I’ve been spinning back on repeat”

A line from the album closer, this last one sums up Creevy’s revealed mind throughout this record, and is a tell as to what I will be doing with this album for the rest of the season.