The Queen & I: At Peace [Album Review]

The Queen & I
At Peace
Self-Released [2025]

“Bittersweet hooks and soaring guitars make At Peace a record that sticks with you.”

Album Overview: Oakland’s The Queen & I mix melancholy and uplift with a knack for turning contrasts into catchy tunes. The trio—Andrew Ledford, Austin Gibbons, and Greg Oertel—pull from the late ’80s and ’90s indie scene while carving out their own lane. At Peace feels like both a rainy-day record and a windows-down drive, wrapping introspection in big, open melodies. Layers of shimmering guitar meet rhythmic drive, creating a sound that’s intimate yet expansive. The production gives the songs room to breathe, and while not every track hits equally hard, the album’s cohesive energy keeps it moving forward. It’s underground enough to keep cred while hinting at bigger things.

Musical Style: The Queen & I blur the line between shoegaze haze and indie rock brightness. Textured guitars swirl around steady beats, and the choruses stick with you long after they fade. There’s grit under the gloss, with dreamy atmospheres meeting punchy song structures. The mix of weight and motion keeps the album from drifting too far into either mood.

Evolution of Sound: With At Peace, the band sharpens their songwriting and widens their emotional scope. Earlier releases hinted at their potential, but here they sound more confident. The arrangements are layered without feeling bloated, and the hooks land stronger. It’s a record that feels like a step up—still finding its footing in places, but clearly pointing toward a band hitting their stride.

Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Ride, Teenage Fanclub, and The Stone Roses feel like a good fit. There’s also a whiff of Oasis swagger and The Verve’s widescreen moods. For something more current, think Ducks Ltd or Dehd with a thicker guitar sound. Dig into overlooked ’90s gems like Throneberry, and you’ll hear the same mix of melody and grit running through this record.

Pivotal Tracks: “Everything Hurts” opens the record with a reflective tone that lingers. “Stay Forever,” the key single, nails the band’s sweet spot: anthemic and lush. “Bitter” rides on dynamic guitar interplay, balancing heaviness with lift. “Wedding Weekend” is an upbeat bittersweet rush that feels tailor-made for heartfelt singalongs. The title track stretches past six minutes, shimmering with guitar work that shows another side of the band.

Lyrical Strength: The lyrics keep things plainspoken but evocative, tackling love, loss, and the search for clarity. They walk the line between hope and sorrow without ever feeling too heavy-handed. The words fit the music’s emotional pull, letting listeners read their own stories between the lines.

Final Groove: At Peace isn’t a perfect record, but it’s a solid, heartfelt ride that balances atmosphere with hooks. The Queen & I show real promise here, with their ever building wall of guitar sound. For now, they’ve delivered an album that’s easy to connect with and hard to shake off. Keep an ear out—this band’s story feels like it’s just getting started.

THE QUEEN & I LINKS
Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp