At the 2023 J Awards, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[3]
At the AIR Awards of 2024, the album was nominated for Best Independent Rock Album or EP, while "I Used to Be Fun" was nominated for Best Independent song. Oscar Dawson was nominated for Independent Producer of the Year for his work on this album and Domestic La La were nominated for Independent Marketing Team of the Year.[4]
In May 2022, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers released their debut extended play (EP), Pretty Good for a Girl Band.[6] The lyrical matters of I Love You are mostly based on events from the band members' personal lives since then– from enduring relationship breakdowns, to moving states and changing jobs.[7] According to the band, the songwriting is much more personal than their debut.[8] For example, in "Never Saw It Coming", drummer Neve van Boxsel opens up about her experiences with sexual assault.[7]
Produced by Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy, I Love You was in production for over a year.[8] It is their most diverse work, and according to The Canberra Times, a "far cry from the punk-driven sounds of the band's [debut] EP".[9] This sonic evolution was made possible due to collaborating with other artists, and working closer together in the studio.[7]
This feels so much more of a representation of all of us and all of our music tastes because this is the first body of work, we've all collaborated on it.[9]
— Neve van Boxsel
"Never Saw it Coming" is the band's first acoustic song, and the first to be written and sung by van Boxsel. It was released as the second single to introduce listeners to a new sound from the band.[9] "Salt" is the band's first collaboration, performed with Melbourne band the Grogans. The two bands decided to work on it together when they met on tour in 2022.[10]
Release and promotion
On 30 March 2023, the band released the lead single "Lights Out",[11] their first new song since their 2022 EP. According to the band, the song was written about "claiming your sexuality, confidence and not caring about what the drunk strangers in a Canberranightclub will think of you".[11] "Lights Out" was supported by a music video directed by band drummer Neve van Boxsel.
The second single "Never Saw It Coming" followed on 7 June.[12] The album title, cover artwork and track listing was announced the next day, as well as the release date of 8 September 2023,[1][13] although this was later changed to 6 October 2023.[14] "I Used to Be Fun" was issued on 27 July as the third single, when the band also announced a nationwide album tour.[15] On 6 September, a fourth single, "Salt", was released.[10]
A deluxe edition, titled I Love You Too, features three additional tracks and is scheduled for release on 20 September 2024.[16]
The album was met with positive reviews. Writing for The AU Review, Dylan Marshall said I Love You featured a "mix of full-blown punk moments, mixed in with earnest love songs and a genuinely lovely smattering of indie rock", calling the album a "belter from start to finish."[18] Thomas Green of The Arts Desk said its tracks tend towards "catchy new waveypower pop or snarling numbers raging at mistreatment in love/sex", concluding the band had found a unique space in the music scene.[17]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Anna Ryan, Jaida Stephenson, Neve van Boxsel and Scarlett McKahey, unless otherwise noted.
