The Xcerts Are "Lovesick" On Latest LP 'Learning How To Live and Let Go' | THE NOISE


Distorted-pop-trio THE XCERTS, consisting of frontman and guitarist Murray Macleod, bassist Jordan Smith, and drummer Tom Heron, continue to bring the good vibes with their latest single, “Lovesick." The track drops alongside the band's latest album, Learning How To Live and Let Go, and delivers listeners a dancey, bittersweet effort framed with retro-inspired percussion, catchy guitar riffs, and delightful vocals

The single opens with a choir of voices spelling out "lovesick" before launching into a collage of hooky instrumentals, including thrumming bass lines, synths, and sunny guitar riffs. Macleod's vocals start soft, setting the scene with verbal depictions of a tumultuous love story. On the chorus, over explosive production with scuzzy guitars and booming drums leading the way, the vocalist belts, "You got me feeling so elastic baby," before ultimately admitting that they feel lovesick, or perhaps more accurately, sick of their love.

"'Lovesick' plays out almost like a twisted rom-com," explains Macleod. "It's about a relationship I was involved in that was, for all intents and purposes, comically bad. I wish it had been a cute 'will they or won't they?' situation, but it was more 'will they just fucking stop already.' We just couldn't get on the same page about anything, but unfortunately for us, we were attracted to one another, and the sex was good. It was all really unhealthy, and we became somewhat obsessed with one another at any given moment, and the ol' childish hot and cold treatment became a staple for the both of us. I didn't want to write a wallowing heartbreak song, I wanted to write an anthem that was true to life and the lived experiences, full of ego, pride, humour, swagger, and sex."

The music video is a simple yet fun-filled visual that sees the band perform the single amid various scenes filled with lipstick stains and roses. Suddenly each band member begins to be sick, sweating profusely and throwing up mysterious, colorful liquids. As the song escalates, so does the chaos in the video, with the band spewing slime at each other and smearing their faces with lipstick.

The band’s 5th studio album, Learning How To Live and Let Go, marks the long-awaited return for the Scottish three-piece. The band, who have released three tracks this year so far, “GIMME," “Ache," featuring Sam Carter, and "Jealousy" - are entering a new age of the band, evolving their pop-rock sound to a more production-heavy output, adding a wider range of influences to their arsenal and gaining the confidence to move on from the sound they’ve cultivated over the previous four albums.

 “At times over the past couple of years, I didn’t think this record would ever be heard, so the fact we are here is a beautiful thing," shared Macleod. "We rid ourselves of fear and pride and let our true experiences take center stage. It was up to the 3 of us to create a fully realised vision and commit ourselves wholeheartedly without second guessing ourselves and to make a record only The XCERTS could make. At times it’s raw, vulnerable, emotional, tender, humorous, claustrophobic, narcissistic, noisy, quiet, calm, chaotic, slick, and loving, but it’s a record rooted in healing and finding inner peace, which I found during the course of making the album after a pretty tumultuous period in my life where everything was too loud, so I turned it all up. We wanted to make a record where the beauty transcends the chaos and I think we did it with a career best.”

Be sure to check out The Xcerts latest evolution below!


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