The Driver Era Explores the Addictive Nature of Love and Desire on their New Album 'Obsession'
- Mikaila Storrs
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Stand-out tracks: "Touch" "The Weekend"
Our favorites: "Same Old Story" "Everybody's Lover"
Release date: April 11, 2025
Label: TOO Records
For fans of: Wallows, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Role Model
The Driver Era’s Obsession is exactly what the title promises — intense, addictive, moody, sexy, and a little messy (in the best way). It’s the sonic equivalent of sending a “you up?” text at 2 a.m. and then dancing through your feelings till sunrise. This 11-track fever dream is the duo’s (Rocky and Ross Lynch) boldest chapter yet, dripping with electric riffs, pulsing synths, and lyrics that dig into the beautiful chaos of love, lust, and everything in between.
The album kicks off with “Obsession,” a funky anthem about being hypnotized by someone to the point of madness. Then comes “Don’t Walk Away,” capturing the butterflies and uncertainty of falling in love, as its tempo swells like the rush of new feelings. “Touch” is flirty and confident, embracing hookup culture with a carefree spin. But “Same Old Story” hits a little deeper. It’s about going back to someone you swore off — again. The lyric “just one cigarette” says it all; he knows it won’t stop at one. It’s not just love — it’s addiction.
And “The Weekend” romanticizes living fast and free — the thrill of packing everything into two days of escape. As Ross explains, “this obsession of trying to make the most of the time and the fact that the weekend really signifies, culturally, this time of freedom. You have two days and you can do whatever you want. Symbolically, I think that represents the album quite well.”
By “Nothing Left To Lose,” we’re fully immersed in the all-or-nothing intensity of love. Then, “Don’t Take The Night” bursts in with pulsing synths and club-ready energy, using intoxication as a metaphor for romantic obsession. “I’d Rather Die” adds a retro touch, exploring the tension between wanting to change and falling back into familiar patterns. The cracks begin to show — and by “Can’t Believe She Got Away,” the damage is done. The regret is raw, and the line “I keep on smoking anyway” speaks volumes about repeating destructive cycles.
“Everybody’s Lover” flips the narrative, revealing a relationship steeped in mistrust and manipulation on her part. And finally, “Better” closes the album on a hopeful note — a moment of clarity that suggests growth is possible, even after the chaos.
Obsession is the sonic equivalent of a toxic situationship you can’t stop coming back to — equal parts irresistible and gut-wrenching. The Driver Era has never been more confident, emotionally authentic, or attuned to the complexities of love and desire. Rocky and Ross have created an album that is more than worthy of being your latest obsession.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DRIVER ERA:
