The Loft Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same
The Loft's Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same arrives as a warmly nostalgic entry in the English indie tradition, trading sharp youthful zeal for a reflective, middle-age poise that critics both admire and find occasionally safe. Across three professional reviews the record earned a 58/100 consensus score, with reviewers consistently pointing to moments of genuine songwriting strength even as they debate the album's overall bite and pace.
Critics agree that the record lives and dies by its songs, and they repeatedly flag “Feel Good Now” as the standout: a glistening, singalong opener praised for its driving mid-tempo and brittle wit. Other frequently mentioned highlights include “Ten Years” with its chugging, country-tinged thrust, and the characterful “Dr Clarke”, while “Storytime” and the closer “This Machine” earn notice for revealing more on repeat plays. Reviewers note recurring themes of timeless guitar pop, nostalgia, friendship and closure, and an Englishness that recalls Beatles and Kinks echoes rendered in warm analogue tones.
Still, professional reviews are mixed on momentum and edge: some critics hail the collection as a convincing, accomplished debut-like statement that rewards patience, while others find slower passages that make the set drag and long for sharper dynamics. The critical consensus suggests fans of classic British indie and timeless guitar pop will find must-listen moments here, even if the whole stops short of essential reinvention. Below, the full reviews unpack where the best songs on Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same sit within The Loft's what-if career reflection and affectionate, rueful songwriting.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Feel Good Now
3 mentions
"The opening track, “Feel Good Now,” is one of the best songs on the record."— Glide Magazine
The Elephant
1 mention
"A brilliant song."— Louder Than War
Dr Clarke
1 mention
"The two ... singles heralding this album: Dr Clarke"— Louder Than War
The opening track, “Feel Good Now,” is one of the best songs on the record.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Feel Good Now
Dr Clarke
Storytime
Ten Years
Killer
Do The Shut Up
Greensward Days
The Elephant
Somersaults
This Machine
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In a warm, slightly rueful voice the reviewer argues that The Loft\'s Everything Changes Everything Stays the Same lives or dies by its songs, and the best tracks - notably “Feel Good Now” and “Ten Years” - prove the point. He praises the glistening singalong of “Feel Good Now” and the chugging, country-tinged thrust of “Ten Years” as exemplars of the album\'s vintage guitar sounds and built-in grace. The review notes how “Storytime” juxtaposes mordant lyrics with euphoric melody and how “Greensward Days” feels delightfully wistful in the way of younger bands. Overall the reviewer calls the record a \"brand new old-fashioned\" debut, accomplished and confident while suggesting the band could use more edge in future outings.
Key Points
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The best song, "Feel Good Now", exemplifies the album's glistening, singalong jangle-pop and overall charm.
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The album's core strengths are melodic songwriting, vintage guitar tones, and a warm, authentic reunion-era feel.
Critic's Take
In his characteristically adoring, conversational tone Ged Babey argues that The Loft’s Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same contains ten flawless songs, and names “Storytime”, “Feel Good Now” and “Dr Clarke” among the standouts. He revels in the album’s Englishness, Beatles and Kinks echoes and a warm analogue sound, insisting that the best tracks — notably “Storytime” — reveal themselves more with each listen. The narrative stresses maturity and closure, and why listeners searching for the best songs on Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same will find those delights packed into the opener and mid-album highlights. The voice is rueful, affectionate and sure-footed, celebrating songs that are immediate yet grow in beauty over time.
Key Points
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The best song, "Storytime", is singled out as sheer genius for its words, music, wit and irresistible hooks.
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The album's core strengths are timeless songwriting, warm analogue sound, English melodic lineage and emotional closure.
Themes
Critic's Take
The Loft’s Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same lands as a charming, slightly wistful return, and the best songs on the album are plainly the opener and the closer. The reviewer singles out “Feel Good Now” as one of the best songs on the record, its driving mid-tempo showing off Pete Astor’s dry, subtly humorous lyricism, and the album closes memorably with the powerful “This Machine”. Slower moments like “Storytime” and “Killer” sometimes make the record drag, but the jangly guitars and timeless British pop feel keep the set compelling. This is a fun record that suggests how much bigger the band might have been if history had gone differently.
Key Points
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The opener "Feel Good Now" is the best song because it perfectly showcases Pete Astor’s dry, humorous lyricism and driving mid-tempo energy.
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The album’s core strengths are its timeless jangly guitars and quintessential British indie pop sensibility.