Cry

Released in 2019, Cry is the second studio album by Cigarettes After Sex, following their breakout self-titled debut. Recorded in a villa in Mallorca, Spain, the album was conceived by frontman Greg Gonzalez as a 'cinematic snapshot' of a specific period in his life, moving from the turmoil of heartbreak to the tentative beginnings of a new relationship. Sonically, the album adheres strictly to the band's established slowcore and dream pop template: minimalist drumming, melodic bass lines, and '50s-inspired pop structures filtered through heavy digital reverb. Critics noted that while the album is more vulnerable and 'gentler' than its predecessor, it also doubles down on the band's singular, almost one-dimensional aesthetic. This consistency has made the album a cornerstone of the 'ambient pop' movement and a staple of modern romantic melancholia, particularly within digital spaces that value its cohesive, nocturnal atmosphere.