WAMH Radio x The Student: sombr — “I Barely Know Her” Album Review
With millions of monthly listeners, sombr is quickly becoming Gen Z’s indie-pop poster boy, but does his debut album live up to the hype? In this WAMH review, Jude Tait ’28 brings a critical ear and just the right amount of side-eye to the album’s TikTok-ready hooks and undeniable charm.
Chiseled cheekbones. Laid-back lankiness. Chalamet-esque fluffy hair. Shane Michael Boose, known professionally as sombr, seemingly waltzed off the assembly line of the White-Boy-of-the-Month factory. Oh yeah, and he just released a chart-topping debut album, “I Barely Know Her,” on Aug. 22, following the breakout success of his viral singles “back to friends” and “undressed.”
Does “I Barely Know Her” live up to the hype? A sexy, well-produced smorgasbord of indie rock, pop, and TikTok-ready riffs, the album sounds both generic and irresistibly catchy. While listening to it, you might find yourself rolling your eyes, bopping your head, or dancing around your bedroom. Sometimes all three at once.
Born and raised in New York City, sombr’s sound features shades of his predecessors The Strokes, Kings of Leon, and Vampire Weekend, with a healthy dose of noisy guitar pop. My favorite song on the album, “12 to 12,” features a foot-stomping drum beat reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?” I also found the album’s fifth song, “canal street,” genuinely touching, enjoying the slower, piano-oriented melody and tone that blends melancholy and nostalgia.
However, “I Barely Know Her” is largely unremarkable lyrically, with sombr sticking to breakups, crushes, and yearning like he’s quoting the subtitles on a Disney Channel episode. “I wanna love you ‘til the end of my life / ‘Cause you’re a ten / And I’m a man that needs a dime,” sombr croons on the album’s fourth track, “dime.” Regardless of what a certain segment of the internet would have you believe, the cliché “you’re a ten” doesn’t exactly inspire “next Jeff Buckley.” As for the chorus heard ‘round the world: “How can we go back to being friends / When we just shared a bed? / How can you look at me and pretend / I’m someone you never met?” Not exactly groundbreaking stuff here, no matter how easily it sticks in your head.
Maybe it doesn’t need to be. There’s no denying sombr’s talented musicianship — he plays almost every instrument on the album. His voice aches in all the right ways. His instincts for virality are uncanny. And remember: he’s only twenty years old. With a Best New Artist nomination at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards and over fifty million monthly Spotify listeners, the sombr hype train is well and truly chugging. I may not be quite “All Aboard!” yet, but there’s plenty of time for that. After all …
sombr? I Barely Know ‘Er!
Jude’s Totally Subjective Album Rating: 7/10
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