By Eileen Fortner, Contributor 

[sexiest boyband records; 2024]

Rating: 7/10

Key Tracks: “pipe down,” “baby boy interlude,” “ripping my tshirt”

The San Antonio-based indie-pop band Mickey Darling (though you may know them better as America’s sexiest boy band) just released their debut Album Let’s Dance Until We Get Scared.  Mickey Darling started as a joke between friends and quickly became known for their funny lyrics mixed with an extremely catchy melody. They’re most well-known for their song “Reverse Cowgirl,” with TikTok loving the sound. 

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Though the band started with some laughs, Mickey Darling is moving to the next chapter of their career and being taken a bit more seriously. Let’s Dance Until We Get Scared moves from an upbeat pop sound to an 80s synth sound, and it works! With things slowed down, the band can give their listeners more of their musical talents and focus on the small things. 

One thing that stands out pretty strongly from Mickey Darling’s old music are the emotions that we see in several of the songs. The most notable song that emphasizes emotions is “always online.” I would call this song the album’s ballad, with an extreme test of the waters with an acoustic guitar, which is in stark contrast to the electric guitar the band always has. This raw vulnerable state is something that always works for any band, it shows their humanity and lets the listeners connect with the music. 

Though we see this change happen with the content of their music, the band doesn’t leave the old sound in the dust, they just reform it. “ripping my tshirt” holds onto the sound we know and love as well as those silly lyrics. And damn is this song catchy! In this song we can also see their strong influence of Boy Pablo. If this album was released during the pandemic, TikTok would have gone feral as they did for Beach Bunny. 

The songs on this album could totally be heard in a Netflix teen rom-com like To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, or something of the sort when the main characters are in a dance montage. Mickey Darling will never disappoint to send out a song that their audience can move their feet to. “I’ll Keep Thinking I’m Important” is one of those songs that no matter who made the song, who hears the song, and if you’ve heard it, you’re going to dance with your friends.  

 Overall, I’d say that this album signifies a great shift in music with a little bit of flair. One thing that I’d love to see from the band is a sick-ass guitar solo implemented in one of their songs. This isn’t something that we have heard from the band yet and in the middle of some of their songs, I think they almost seem to set themselves up for a solo. I’d say that this album is about building confidence and trying new things, and it worked out well for the band.