1xLP on Blue Vinyl

Arlo Parks made her full-length debut with 2021's Collapsed in Sunbeams, a remarkable set of highly accessible songs filled with vivid, sometimes heartbreaking lyrics that expressed feelings like depression, anxiety, and envy in a comforting and relatable way. The album was a well-deserved success, earning widespread acclaim as well as several major awards and nominations, including the Mercury Prize, while Parks won a Brit Award for Best New Artist. She spent much of 2021 and 2022 on the road, including a tour with Clairo and dates as the support act for Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, and she relocated from London to Los Angeles along the way. Her nonstop work schedule took its toll on her mental health, and she was forced to cancel several concerts in September of 2022 in order to slow down and recuperate. On her second album, My Soft Machine, she cuts straight to the whirlwind of emotions she's dealing with as she navigates through the drastic changes of her life. Her lyrics feel far more urgent than they did before, with fewer poetic details and pop culture references, and a much stronger desire for happiness and affection. Though she rarely makes direct references to specific names and places, the songs are inspired by people close to her, particularly her partner, pop star Ashnikko, as well as friends who have been battling substance abuse and other issues.

Collapsed In Sunbeams    
Hurt    
Too Good    
Hope    
Caroline    
Black Dog    
Green Eyes    
Just Go    
For Violet    
Eugene    
Bluish    
Portra 400