By Jo Gale
Allow me to introduce you to my friends, the Internet Lover Boys. Self-claimed to be simultaneously chronically online and hopeless romantics, Travis Moh, Gavin White, and Dallin Phillips started the group a couple years back in 2023. In that time, the Provo-based group has put out a myriad of singles and one EP. Entitled Your Favorite Sweater, the short release has it all — ranging from a wall of sound of dreamy guitar lines and lots of snare, to lyrics and vocals that cut deep and hard. If you A) can vibe with a sort of melancholy indie pop, B) have ever been down bad for someone, or C) have been left heartbroken, the Internet Lover Boys are for you.
In briefly talking with the group, their goal of the EP was to use it as an outlet for frustrations, feelings, and ideas, hopefully in a somewhat cohesive manner. Being a collection of some of the very first songs the group ever created together, Your Favorite Sweater came with its own set of challenges. All members had previously worked on their own musical projects in one way or another, but learning how to bring each of their voices together was no easy feat.
The reward seems to have been well worth the struggle, however. Your Favorite Sweater doesn’t feel lacking in unity or purpose and leaves first-time listeners walking away loving the Provocore genre the group so perfectly encapsulates even more than they did before.
To me, the release seems to tell a sad, classic love story along the course of its four tracks. “Lovestruck” opens the EP strong, embodying the rollercoaster of emotions of falling headfirst for someone new. Poppy and catchy, the song is sure to get you out of your seat and dancing around.
Our lover boys then slow things down with their ballad to overthinking your situationship, called “White Noise.” The line “a classic case of romanticism creating cognitive dissonance” will be on repeat in my mind for the next year, thank you very much. This very well may be my favorite song on the EP, due to not only its lyrical relatability, but also its crispy guitar lines. The layered sounds make it a strong slow song that sort of just envelops you, without being too overbearing. If you’re like me and love a good cry in the car song, queue this one up next time you go for a drive.
“Villain” and “Loser” close out our story with the aftermath of splitting off from this person. It says a lot when bands are capable of doing both electric and acoustic sets well, and “Villain” proves that the Internet Lover Boys are among those capable of both. A small brass section accompanies the other instruments for most of the song, giving it a fuller sound. The last minute or so drops off to just be vocals and guitar in a hauntingly beautiful outro.
“Loser” focuses more on the (sometimes futile) attempts to move on from somebody, lyrics stating “nothing but intrusive thoughts inside; I’m contemplating whether I should call you and speak my mind.” The beat picks up from the last track, and the energy switches, seeming to imply moving on from being sad about what happened to maybe being a bit angry and self-deprecating. It’s an honest and gritty close to a great release.
It’s hard to find much to be critical about from such a dynamic first EP, but if I had to give one suggestion it would be to add a little more layering to the vocals. The vocals are already strong — I’m not saying they’re not. But I think adding some harmonies would really help the band to pack an extra punch.
If you, too, are a hopeless romantic you’re sure to fall hard for the Internet Lover Boys just like I have. The band has stated that they “want listeners to be ready for more,” and report that we can expect to see a lot of growth in what they release next. Blast them on your next walk, cry to them in the car, or even better, follow them on Instagram to find out when their next show is!
Listen to “White Noise” here!