Review: lolitslea - Rollercoaster Tycoon

Artist: lolitslea
Album: Rollercoaster Tycoon
Label: Independent

Life is a rollercoaster. It has its ups and downs —some of which are far more intense than others. At the end, though, it is the ride that makes it worth it. As a gamer, I have always been intrigued when artists make direct references to video games. That interest is piqued even higher when they build an entire album around the theme of a video game. What game makes more sense, lyrically, than Rollercoaster Tycoon and NJ based neon pop artist, lolitslea takes that idea to a new level in her new album, named after the game itself. The album is, as the title suggests, a rollercoaster of emotions, life experiences and overall conveys the exact nostalgic feeling it is meant to convey.
Meant to feel exactly like its namesake video game, this is a pure early 2000s pop-punk kid’s wildest dream. Every moment of the album is made to feel like it could fit right into the game itself. It’s the type of album that doesn’t take itself too seriously, while still conveying a strong, meaningful message. That message? Simple: Growing up is an inevitability but the experiences that shape who you are, make the ride more worth it than you know. The sound that she crafts is both nostalgic, yet fresh and stands as a testament to the songwriting abilities between her and her collaborators. No stranger to collaboration, this one includes songwriting credits from Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday) and Tony Pietrafesa (Avowed Productions) There is a certain confidence that she exudes through every line, which just simply isn’t found much in this scene.

The opening track, “Main Menu” sounds like it comes straight out of SSX Tricky. The looped drum beats, electronics and heavy distortion make it feel as if you’re truly sitting in front of a CRT screen, about to click that “start” button.

Enter “Wish I’d Known,” the first real dose of the pure talent that she possesses. The track is all about leaving the familiar to chase her dreams and try and take the spotlight. In the wake of the aftermath, she’s left relationships, friends and an entire life in a single night. A clean, electric guitar intro underlies a soft, emotional vocal to begin the track, before kicking into some 808s, injecting a little bit of a hip-hop flare into the track. Suddenly, you’re overtaken by a huge, soaring vocal in the chorus that is instantly stuck in your head. Ultimately, this track is all about not being afraid to live out your dreams, but being aware of the sacrifices you’ll have to make to get to where you want to be. The vocal harmonies on this track are beautiful and, even on their own, stand out from much of what you may hear in the genre. It’s catchy, infectious and definitely gets the listener’s body moving.

My introduction, and still one of my favorite moments on the album, was with “BURNOUT!! BURNOUT!!” This track is a bit faster-paced and quite honestly feels like it would be at home on the THPS2 soundtrack. The vibe on this one is a bit more aggressive, both instrumentally and lyrically. Where “Wish I’d Known” is an amalgamation of the choice and consequences of chasing your dreams, “BURNOUT!! BURNOUT!!” is about how exhausting the journey can be. There’s so much pressure on artists to put out music that is worthy of the public opinion, all while battling inner demons and the emotions that come with trying to keep up. The weight of the scheduling conflicts, the fear of letting fans down, of speaking too loud or saying the wrong thing is all enough to make one’s head explode. I think this song, while not as hooky, really does a great job of conveying that emotion. There’s even an interesting growled vocal at the very end, which feels like a heavy sigh.

“He’s a God (Complex)” is probably going to be the most sleeper hit of the album. It’s a fun, lovestruck anthem about what it’s like to be in love with the man of your teenage dreams. That tattooed, swoopy hair, emo badass that you never thought would be attracted to you. This track is bouncy and has a similar pacing to the previously mentioned, “BURNOUT!! BURNOUT!!” but on a different emotional level. This is a song that doesn’t take itself too seriously… it’s just a girl in love, expressing what it’s like to be in love and the disbelief that comes with this man loving her back. She can see the red flags but clearly ignores them because… as she says “he’s got the hots for me!”

Then, you have the opposite side of the coin in “i hate sugar!!!” This one feels more like a traditional, mid 00s pop-punk anthem. This is the type of track to take a long, contemplative drive with the windows down and the volume up. This is where the red flags begin to kick in and there begins to be some second guessing, compared to the feeling of how sugar tastes so sweet, but is ultimately bad for you. This track begins to explore the inevitable downfall of the relationship and the emotions that are coming with it. There is a desire to show this person off to everyone, even knowing that they won’t approve and you know you will need to defend yourself over him.

Have you ever sat alone in a room, after an amazing date… but have the realization that it was all a result of a clouded state of mind? Deep down, you realize you want something true and something that is lasting. This is where the depression kicks in and the acoustic-led, ballad-like track “Outside of My Window” comes in. This is a beautiful track that explores the melancholy feeling of wanting someone for the rest of your life and not just for a night. There is something that can be said for the way this track builds to the final chorus, which explodes in a way that you wouldn’t expect. This track gives me the same type of goosebumps that “You Be the Anchor…” by Mayday Parade does. It has a beautiful build, break and crescendo before it settles off at the end.

I think one of the coolest things about this album is “Sleep Over” and the dichotomy between lolitslea and featured artist K Enagonio (Red Jumpsuit Apparatus/Matriarchs). While K does what K does best and screams their heart out, lolitslea creates that infectious, pop sensibility that has weaved itself throughout the proverbial code that makes up this album. The melody from “Main Menu” is reprised throughout this track, which creates a great atmosphere for the track. There is a heavier tone to this song, but not in the way you’d expect it to be. This track continues to explore the guilt of a “Sleep Over,” when feelings have developed. I’ve always been a fan of Enagonio but I think one of their best displays is within this collaboration.

Think of Rollercoaster Tycoon as the soundtrack to life itself. It’s full of emotion, chaos and whimsy but every single track is a life lesson and an experience reflected on. This is an honest representation of lolitslea as an artist, good, bad and ugly. Life isn’t meant to be easy… it’s meant to test you and cause you to grow through the trials that it throws your way. Think about what it feels like as a true gamer and ask yourself: Do you often play on “easy” mode or would you rather test yourself and show that you can play through on “expert.” That’s what I thought… now do yourself a favor and go listen to Rollercoaster Tycoon, out today! Support independent music!