Michael Cera Palin - We Could Be Brave

There's no better way to face adversity than to stare bravely into the abyss. Atlanta's Michael Cera Palin know all about adversity, and after existing for nearly a decade – a decade that also includes a brief hiatus – 'We Could Be Brave' is a fully-formed, taut and lithe debut full-length that captures every facet of the group's idiosyncratic sound.

Not many bands drop their first album at this stage of their career, but having earned a formidable reputation for their incendiary live shows, such patience has been wonderfully rewarded. Translating such high-octane performances to record is never an easy ask, but with a slew of songs honed to perfection at house shows and dive bars over the last few years, it ensures the recorded output more than matches the MCP live experience.

Throughout, MCP show a debt of gratitude to their emo revival godfathers, and from the opening noodling bars of 'Feast or Famine', it's easy to see the touchpoints. A dash of Into It Over It – which recurs throughout – sprinkled with some of the up-tempo chaos concocted by Algernon Cadwallader or the perky punk-tinged sound of Sports. – and you have a pretty heady mix of poise and power. MCP harness it perfectly.

In these moments – the frantic 'Tardy', bouncy 'Despite' and rip-roaringly punchy 'Crypto' – MCP strike gold. They're irresistible songs, ripe for communal sing-alongs and collective euphoria, all packaged in accessible, but somewhat knotty, pop songs.

There's depth there, too; relationships, mental health, and politics – both personal and societal – all come in for scrutiny, but throughout, MCP, in their own words, "lead with love". There's no sloganeering here, just beautifully observed and smartly elucidated songs about the human condition. There's a vulnerability, too – which helps bring people along on MCP's journey of self-discovery. It all makes for the first great emo record of 2025.