people stories

UMI is back! Like Avery Anna’s let go letters, people stories is a collection of personal vignettes. I do appreciate the storytelling style, but, very much like let go letters, the stories feel bigger than the songs. The songwriting feels disproportionately at the forefront of the music. Combined with how literal many lyrics are, many of the tracks feel one-dimensional and elementary. Moreover, the record felt far more pop than her previous works. For this reason, her Love Language EP, Instrospection Reimagined and Forest in the City albums feel truer to the UMI sound that she has suited for so many years. people stories is charming, but not what I would describe as particularly mature. By all means, people stories is not an unpleasant listen. If anything, it might be a little too pleasant. A little too flat, a little to simple, a little too easy.