Kids Return’s “1997” opens with “First Choice” and unfolds like a cinematic reflection on love, loss, and growing up.
French indie duo Kids Return channel the ache of memory and the thrill of youth on 1997, their debut full-length album. Opening with the luminous “First Choice,” the record invites listeners on a sonic journey through summer crushes, shattered friendships, late-night confessions, and long walks into the unknown.
“It captures the impulsive, carefree nature of teenage love,” the duo says of the opening track. This vibrant nostalgia pulses through the album, which blends Britpop hooks, classic pop structures, and emotionally direct lyricism into a cohesive whole.
“My Hero,” one of the album’s most affecting moments, pays homage to a lost loved one with stirring melodies and raw vocals. Its music video, starring French actress Céleste Brunnquell, adds a visual poignancy to the tribute. “Time to Time” is where emotions bubble over, while “Teenage Dreams” captures the arc from betrayal to forgiveness.
Mid-album highlights include the moody groove of “Who Knows?” and the introspective “Welcome To My Life.” On “Perfect Lover,” the band blends anxiety, longing, and chaotic joy into a single track.
The record’s final notes—“So Good Alone” and “The Seattle Boat”—reflect on solitude and self-acceptance. “We love the idea of ending the album with a farewell, yet one that feels like the start of something new,” Kids Return note.
With 1997, Kids Return offer a bold, emotional, and refreshingly human statement—a timeless debut for anyone who’s ever felt something too deeply to explain.
