After a seven-year hiatus, The Davenports return with their fifth studio album, You Could’ve Just Said That, a self-produced, introspective, and melodically rich collection of songs. Led by Scott Klass, the band continues to evolve, blending indie pop, folk, and garage rock influences into an intimate exploration of communication—its successes, failures, and all the awkward spaces in between.
Klass, the sole constant in The Davenports’ ever-changing lineup, played nearly every instrument on the album, save for the collaboration-heavy “Annabellas of the World,” which enlists They Might Be Giants’ Danny Weinkauf and Look Park’s Chris Collingwood. His DIY approach lends the album a raw authenticity, balancing polished production with a personal, living-room-recording charm.
From the outset, You Could’ve Just Said That grabs listeners with “When Everything’s Over,” a groove-driven opener that sets the thematic tone: lighthearted melodies contrast introspective, often bittersweet lyrics. Klass masterfully crafts everyday vignettes into lyrical reflections, giving voice to unspoken thoughts and social missteps with wit and sincerity.
The album’s title track and “I Am Lying” form a complementary pair, dissecting the struggle of honest communication from different angles. The former embraces grungy folk to express frustration over emotional barriers, while the latter, softened by honeyed harmonies, captures the internal battle of someone afraid to say what they really mean. Elsewhere, “When I Tell You That I’m Sorry” questions the emptiness of apologies in modern discourse, propelled by a swelling piano-and-guitar arrangement.
Klass’s storytelling ability shines in “If You Put Me Next to Patti,” which captures the anxiety of running into an ex at a party, and “I’m Not Going to Bother You,” an introspective monologue from someone feeling emotionally sidelined. Meanwhile, “We’re Talking About You” injects a funky, upbeat groove into the album, while “Full-Length Mirror” leans into bluesy melancholia.
The closing track, “We Know We Want To,” leaves a lasting impression. Klass’s voice, stripped of pretense, delivers a poignant reflection on missed connections and diverging emotions. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album that thrives on its ability to find beauty and meaning in life’s smallest, most fleeting moments.
For longtime fans, You Could’ve Just Said That is The Davenports at their most refined and self-assured. For new listeners, it’s an accessible yet thought-provoking introduction to Klass’s knack for blending sharp lyricism with infectious melodies. The album isn’t just about communication—it invites us to listen a little more closely to the words we say, the ones we don’t, and the ones we wish we had
Listen to You Could’ve Just Said That on
Follow The Davenports on
