Lizzy McAlpine’s new album “Angel” was released on Sept. 18, 2026. It’s her fourth studio album and a follow-up to her previous album “Older.” With 14 tracks that span roughly an hour, she’s created a beautiful collection of songs that takes you through an emotional story.Â
Many listeners discovered McAlpine through “Five Seconds Flat” or “Older;”; if you’re one of them, you’ll come to notice that “Angel” may sound different at first. This album is still considered alternative while pulling from folk influences and consisting of acoustic instrumentation, with a warm 1970s undertone.Â
McAlpine has described this album as exploring a period of self-discovery, while having themes of love, heartbreak, friendship and independence. One of the central questions of the album is what happens when you realize you’re allowed to choose yourself.Â
The Beginning: Falling in love
The album opens with “The Light In The Painting,” the first single McAlpine released for the album. This song shows the bright and heartfelt side of a relationship. With smooth, soft orchestral elements and chromatic drops on the guitar, this song feels emotional yet colorful all at once.Â
Following that, there’s “Anybody’s Fool,” with darker lyrics compared to the first track; it explores wanting someone to want you while knowing they’re not good for you. I think this song is very raw and vulnerable. Next is “A Car Wash And A New Pair Of Pants,” in which she used ordinary objects and experiences and turned them into meaningful metaphors.Â
Friendship, loneliness and the people around us
“I Have A Friend” shifts the album to a lonelier feeling. It makes intimate feelings sound conversational.Â
Next are “The Moon,” my personal favorite, and “Ugly Things.” Both songs focus on the remnants of the relationship after it ends — the memories and feelings that linger even though that person is no longer yours. Especially in “Ugly Things,” using a picture in a wallet as an example, having these physical souvenirs makes you think back to what was and what you could’ve had, but in the end you had to let go.
These songs pivoted from being in love to what love leaves behind.Â
“Soldier Of The Road”: The Journey
“Soldier on the Road,” featuring the Fleet Foxes, adds another layer of folk to the album. It fits nicely into the album as it favors guitars, piano, harmonica, pedal steel and other live instruments.Â
This song broadens the focus of the album, turning away from romantic relationships and leaning into growth. Living life, traveling, learning, having new experiences. All things that shape you and help you understand where you belong.
“Peach”: The turning pointÂ
McAlpine wrote this song shortly after a breakup. The central realization of the song is pretty simple: after getting out of a long relationship, she can make her own choices. She can eat a peach whenever she wants.Â
She doesn’t have to worry about one person determining how her day goes or even her life. She can make decisions for herself, but she also doesn’t have someone to hide behind anymore.Â
She can do what she wants. She has free will. She can eat a peach.Â
This idea becomes the emotional center of “Angel.”
“Over Country” and the album’s darker moments
This song has introspective qualities. With it being five minutes, it gives her plenty of time to explore and expand on the atmosphere. Veering away from a conventional pop structure.
The middle and later portions of “Angel” become increasingly reflective, with “Two elevens” and the 7-minute “Our strange ways,” also one of my favorites, giving the album room to breathe. The latter is especially representative of McAlpine’s willingness on this record to let songs unfold slowly rather than immediately delivering their emotional payoff.Â
“Mason’s song” and “the crowd”
“Mason’s song” is an intimate moment of accountability. It’s centered around an apology, admitting that she isn’t perfect and is still growing and learning.
Next, “The crowd” is a beautifully written song about her late father. This one’s a tear-jerker focusing on things she wished she knew about her father that she can no longer ask, and vice versa: things he will never know about her and her growth.Â
“Angel”: The Ending
The album concludes with its title track, “Angel.”
After 14 songs moving through love, heartbreak, friendship, loneliness, freedom, grief and self-discovery, the title suddenly feels much more significant. “Angel” isn’t simply about another person being an angel. It questions who and what we hold onto, let go of and learn to be independent.
How to listen to “Angel”
When listening, listen in order from track one to track 14. The progression matters, and how each song connects and shows growth. Moving through relationships, experiences, hardships and independence
“Angel” is a story about becoming your own person. At the same time, realizing that you can be free and eat the peach.Â