REVIEW: Adult Mom - “91” Single
Adult Mom’s latest single, “91,” is an ode to choosing yourself. A foil to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” in which a heartbroken Rodrigo sees her ex’s face in every red light and stop sign, Adult Mom’s Stevie Knipe only sees a future without their ex-lover as they gaze upon the open road, leaving a trail of expired memories behind the further they drive.
“91” is a B-Side from Adult Mom’s seminal album, Driver, a body of work that garnered praise from music outlets such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. The much awaited release of this follow-up song has definitely lived up to the hype of it’s preceding album, quenching the thirst of fans and casual music enthusiasts alike. “91” continues the themes explored on Driver— the freedom awarded by the road, the longing for control in uncontrollable situations, the confusion and messiness of one's coming of age, and the desire to defy all odds and get it right.
A song about speeding down the freeway, that perhaps ironically, perhaps intentionally, makes a perfect soundtrack for that very same activity, Adult Mom pours all their angst and relief into this confessional. Knipe has always had a knack for lyrics that are so honest, they border on uncomfortable, and this song is no exception. Here, they describe the uncertainty of leaving a relationship they feel trapped in- a choice riddled with accusations of “irrationality” and feelings of selfishness.
“I break your heart with every lane that I merge through,” Knipe confesses. “It's a selfish escape / I no longer breathe for you.”
Much like driving, “91” takes the listener on a journey, meditating over their thoughts in real time as they grapple with this new life chapter, whilst simultaneously making their way to their mothers house to “cry [till they’re] emptied out.”
Paired with this cutting story is a vocal performance that emanates acceptance, Knipe delivers these lines with the casualness of somebody who has made peace with their decision to leave their past behind and take on the open road. This delivery only elevates the song, as it grounds all the conflicting emotions conveyed through the lyrics.
Guilt, loneliness, freedom, fear; on “91,” these feelings both intermingle and take turns taking center stage. Maybe Knipe is irrational. Maybe they are selfish. Maybe they are truly everything their old lover said they were. But for Knipe, amongst the impending uncertainty, nostalgic guitar licks and matter-of-fact vocals, lies a deeply cathartic realization— at least they are the type to leave when things are fucked.
Photo by Daniel Dorsa
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