Everyone Says Hi – Funny Cos It’s True

Intoxicating indie-pop meets hazy psychedelic hooks on UK supergroup Everyone Says Hi’s sophomore album, Funny Cos It’s True, led by former Kaiser Chiefs songwriter Nick Hodgson. Sun-drenched, twangy, experimental melodies and basslines disguise dark lyrics exploring modern anxieties, existentialism and digital isolation, creating an intriguing contradiction. Building on the alternative rock sound of their debut, the album’s more unusual instrumentation introduces a distinct tension and a new direction for the band. But do they manage to balance these qualities successfully throughout?

A soulful opening and steady, reverb-drenched rhythm in Just Like That set the record in motion, establishing an inviting blend of ambient blues and spacious soundscapes. The serene guitar line and echoey vocals lull the listener into a false sense of security, hinting at a more predictable record than the one that follows. Crisp, clean and layered production allows the subtle vocal delivery to fuse seamlessly with the instrumentation, as bridge lyrics such as “Everybody wants to love somebody” melt into the arrangement. The transition to standout track Communication feels hypnotic, with Pete Denton’s Kooks roots shining through in a funkier, melodic bassline and the recurring motif of Ben Gordon’s synth-bass flair. Gordon’s punchy, trumpet-like melodic layer returns in the chorus, swelling the song’s sunny atmosphere and reinforcing the band’s retro psych-pop identity. Together, the opening singles pulse with memorable guitar riffs, synthesisers and basslines, contrasting the warmth of the music with Communication’s downbeat lyrics about uncertainty and disillusionment with the digital world.

Mellow chirping synths and low-register piano keys deceptively open But What You Gonna Do (Birthday Song), cradling Hodgson’s delicate vocals before heavy, alt-rock-style drums and guitar burst in for the chorus. The 80s aesthetic of an indie boyband rehearsing in their parents’ garage is reimagined through the chorus, mirroring how Hodgson created the collection in his own North London home studio: his modern-day garage. From Beatles-esque verses to explosive choruses, these dramatic shifts in dynamics and direction are defining characteristics of the album’s success, creating unpredictable yet powerful contrasts. While slower-paced pieces like Real Friends and Just Forget It offer acoustic palate cleansers, the title track, Funny Cos It’s True, stands out for its spaghetti Western-inspired electric guitar, deep bass and beautifully layered retro keyboard textures. Its chaotic production seems to reflect the unsettling lyrics about human extinction and a robot uprising, criticising AI through a Tame Impala-esque soundscape.

Overall, the album conjures a recognisable sonic identity through its tight production, enchanting melodies and stylistic variation between light and darkness. Layered vocals and instrumentation, alongside distinctive bridges featuring moments of angsty chanting, are particular strengths. The slower acoustic numbers may challenge the album’s momentum, yet they offer emotional depth and prevent the tracklist from becoming too repetitive. The record concludes with Everyone’s Gonna Lose, a communal closer that evokes the image of friends gathered around the campfire for a singalong. Before the arrangement strips back to piano and soft vocals in the outro, the song captures both the upbeat joy of the band’s music and the vulnerability laid bare in the album’s lyrical dimension.

Jennifer Hensey
Photo: Stewart Baxter

Funny Cos It’s True is released on 9^th October 2026. For further information or to order the album, visit Everyone Says Hi’s website here.

Watch the video for Real Friends here: