ALBUM REVIEW: I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE (DELUXE) - instant crush

Seattle based Pop – Rockers, Instant Crush are the band playing at prom in an alternative 2000’s movie, shimmering with glitter and confetti yet electrifying with guitar riffs and piercing vocals. In 2024 they released their explosive debut album ‘I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE’ and in 2026 comes the deluxe version, with three brilliant new tracks and three demos to sink our teeth into.   

Deluxe addition ‘GRUDGE’ opens the album with a surge of angst and Emo-Rock. Megan Cannon shifts between an apathetic drawl and crystal-clear vocals, delivering self-aware lines like ‘Bad habits, melodramatic, just to prove you wrong’ over screeching guitars and layered electronic production. The album’s second track ‘A CINEMATIC EXIT!’, is a true Indie- Rock anthem, introducing explosive instrumentals and modulated vocals, the refrain ‘Goddamn it’s so fun’  captures its exuberant energy.

Photo Credit: Sarina Solem

‘ON THE INTERNET’ takes aim at the spectatorial cruelty of the internet with lyrics like ‘If I crash at least watch as I burn’. Dramatic pauses and crashing instrumentals create the urge to dance, mirroring the songs point as the listener becomes part of the spectacle. Following track ‘CALL ME CRAZY’, another deluxe addition, carries this vulnerability forward with lyrics like ‘telling myself the same damn lie’ that capture self-deception and the struggle to define personal limits, whilst drummer Matthew Tran’s intense percussion underscores the relentless emotional cycle. Third deluxe track, ‘RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT ME’ circles the urge to restart but reveals that paralysis as the aftermath of being left behind, with bouncy instrumentals offsetting the catchy yet hard-hitting chorus.

Leaning further into their Pop influences, ‘LONER’ and ‘ALL YOUR FRIENDS’, are reminiscent of early Katy Perry with a Paramore edge. The former is the album’s only truly optimistic love song, with lyrics like ‘hey boy, you’re such a loner’ creating a coming-of-age feel, whilst fluttering strings mimic the giddiness of an instant crush. The latter questions the nature of keeping things casual, as punchy vocals sharpen the tension between words and actions on contradictory lyrics ‘say I’m the only one you adore’ and ‘sleep on opposite sides of the bed’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4QmJgDLNm4

Later track, ‘APOLOGY TOUR’ highlights the band’s talent for blending fun and introspection, making light of emotional indifference with lyrics like ‘when we’re together it’s kind of whatever’ . The addition of multiple shouting voices on the chorus only adds to the track’s teasing charm. Wrapping up the deluxe, ‘symptom of withdrawal - demo’, feels more distant and restrained but still brimming with angst, its jumpy instrumentals and overlapping, modified vocals giving it an unexpected dance floor edge.

With introspective honesty, shredding guitar riffs, Pop bounciness and dynamic production, this album truly has something for everyone. We can’t wait to see what follows this glittering debut.