On Friday, April 10th, 2026, Laufey released her Deluxe Album, A Matter of Time: The Final Hour. This album included the original 15 songs released back in August, as well as 4 new songs. I adore Laufey; her music means a lot to me and has been a bonding element between friends and even with my mom, so of course, I had to give a review of her newest releases. I am not an expert on music, but I spend about 90% of my time with headphones on, escaping in the beauty of sound. I also attended her A Matter of Time tour in Austin last September, and spent every day leading up to the concert listening to the songs on repeat in preparation. My favorite of her songs includes, but is not limited to, Goddess and Bewitched.
A Matter of Time
I wanted to give some love to my favorites from the original 15 songs released. I, of course, have to start off with Lover Girl, which was first released in June. This song is a rare, sweet moment of happiness from Laufey, and I mean, who hasn’t been in their Lover Girl era at least once in their lives? Hearing this song live filled me with a happiness that can’t be described in words. The iconic Lover Girl claps filled me with so much joy, I couldn’t even record because I was too excited.
Next up is Snow White, released in August, along with its music video. I cried when I first heard this, which wouldn’t be a first for Laufey. While Laufey has an incredibly diverse group of listeners, a large number are women, particularly young women, and I am sure most of us resonated with this song more than we would have liked to. This song beautifully portrays the struggles with body image so many experience as they battle with societal norms; “A woman’s best currency is her body, not her brain.” Also, Laufey is Icelandic, and this isn’t the first song where she’s touched on her “differences” from those around her. Snow White is young and pale; she is beautiful, and Laufey does not see herself as that. This song touches the hearts of many who understand, and I admire Laufey for that.
Another favorite is Silver Lining, the first song of this album, released in April. This one gets a special mention because it’s one of my mom’s favorites, and for that, I adore it. Another rare, happy moment from Laufey. Despite being about ending up in hell with your lover, it’s an oddly sweet song. Someone who you love so deeply and truly that even through all the bad and mistakes, that may lead to punishment, you are still grateful and filled with joy simply because you are with them.
Next, Mr. Eclectic. This song is just timeless. A perfect encapsulation of a man many have, unfortunately, had to deal with; a “performative male”. Laufey, however, is too smart and all too familiar to be tricked again; “The very expert on the foolish things/That men have said to woo and win me over.” This is also a favorite because it was so incredibly fun to experience live.
A couple of special mentions because this album is just too good not to have a million favorites. First, Clean Air, which, listening to it honestly, feels like a breath of fresh air. The song sounds so happy and lively and bright, perfectly displaying the freedom. And who doesn’t love the line, “Get the f*ck out of my atmosphere”? My two other special mentions are simply due to the incredible performance of them in concert. Carousel was absolutely beautiful. The set design was incredible, the colors consuming. and of course, Sabatoge, which quite literally shook me. My first listen through headphones was shocking, but in person was an entirely different experience. A song so powerful I felt it through my bones.
Too Little, Too Late
Too Little, Too Late was released with the original 15 songs, it deserves its own section, as my favorite song. Words don’t do it justice. This song is a stark contrast from Laufey’s usual songs, told through the perspective of the man. I don’t know what this man did, but God, does this song make me want to defend him. I adore the medieval/royalty themes within this song. The comparison of the past lover as a jester and the new one, a ruler. The chorus sounds exactly as it feels, a desperate, painful plea for love and forgiveness. And the second chorus contains my favorite line, “To tell you I should’ve chased you/I should be who you’re engaged to.” And, in the end, the eventual surrender and acceptance that they are not the one, and a toast to who she will end up with, because it won’t be him. If the pain wasn’t already evident in the release of the song, it truly was when sung in concert. Laufey beautifully conveys the hopelessness and guilt portrayed. This song is just revolutionary.
Madwomen
Oh. My. Gosh. I am speechless.
This song was released on Friday with the rest of the deluxe album, the music video was released on Monday, and of course, I had to wait to listen until I could watch it. Where to begin? The cast is insane. Laufey, of course, as the madwoman herself. The besties: figure skater and Olympic gold medalist, Alyssa Liu, Katseye member, Megan Skiendiel, and actress and lead in The Summer I Turned Pretty, Lola Tung. And the iconic man, Heated Rivalry star, Hudson Williams. The music video itself had very 70s vibes, and felt almost like the movie Don’t Worry Darling. An ongoing battle between truth and desire. A relationship that drains, a man that manipulates, but a desire for love. And I mean, it’s Hudson Williams. Beyond the message, the details in this video are amazing. The fish is iconic, resulting in a very obvious thirst trap. The friends in literal rose-colored glasses, except Alyssa, who we see peaking through the curtain of manipulation after the pool scene. The license plate, the break in the road signifying no escape, the friends in an almost hypnotized state. The song itself exemplifies that hypnotizing hold and it’s beyond catchy. A happy, upbeat tune that hides the manipulation and darkness within the lines. Despite the universe warning Laufey, “It’s like the gods above us don’t approve,” she ignores the signs and returns again and again. My favorite line is a welcome reference, “As I’m gasping at clean air”. This song has made us all madwomen, filled with an obsession for Laufey.
How I Get
How I Get was released first, in February, and I immediately fell in love. Love makes us crazy sometimes. An emotion so powerful, it drives us to do things we would never do. It feels similar to Madwomen, but far more self-aware of the effects a man has on her. I adore the line, “What a greedy, hungry hoarder am I”, which encapsulates the all-consuming feeling of love and the desperation and need for more, even if it’s harmful, even if you’re full. The song also touches on a common theme of abandoning friends for the one you love. “Don’t cut strings to attach to/Just some far-sought silhouette,” feels like cutting off friends and relationships to give your all to a partner, who you don’t even truly know. An addiction to love, to music. In the end, in the background, a reference to sound and tempo. Throughout it all, time is always in the background, an impending doom.
I Wait, I Wait, I Wait
Laufey has done it again. I Wait, I Wait, I Wait, felt like it pierced through my heart. Ouch. Laufey has a way with making music that perfectly portrays experiences so many of us unfortunately understand, with such understanding and care. This song shares the feeling of expecting the worst in everything, always waiting for the next bad thing to happen, never truly getting to experience happiness. “The price of a cynic is joy for just one minute,” a line that cuts right through my soul. Laufey shows the effects of being hurt over and over again, feeling as though nothing good can come anymore. Every bit of happiness is too good to be true. Like waiting on a ledge, for the final push of hurt that you’ve experienced so many times before, never allowing yourself to back away and heal. The tune washes over you, a consuming sense of melancholy, calm and gentle like a lullaby, but aching and overwhelming. The calm before a storm. I can only imagine what will come from it (soul-crushing edits on TikTok). This one has to be my favorite from the deluxe album, crushing, but beautiful.
I’ll Forget About You (In Time)
Last, but not least, another tear-jerker. I’ll Forget About You (In Time) tells the pain of waiting to move on from someone, the desperation for escape of a long and painful process. This song ties in perfectly with the themes of time, the process of moving on, long and unforgiving, and Laufey shares her desperation to speed this up. The line, “I won’t think about you when I die,” reminds me of the principle of seven minutes of your life flashing before you after death, and in this case, a hope that he won’t appear in those minutes. Laufey is tormented by her memories, a desperation to flee, but an acknowledgment that she may never get that freedom, and she will never love again, even when reassured by her mom, “I wish I could believe her words.” My favorite part of this song is the bridge, the rushed piano reminding me of Goddess, immediately drawing me in, creating that feeling of desperation and hopelessness. In the background, a repetition of “ding, dong,” echoes as a reminder of time. The ending line, a question, a final show of vulnerability of the internal battles of love. A beautiful and perfect ending to (another) incredible album.
A question of hope and a wish for love.