Role Model Captures the Pain of Letting Go with 'Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)'

After the successful release of his second album ‘Kansas Anymore’, Role Model (Tucker Pillsbury) hit fans with gut-wrenching deluxe tracks on Valentines Day with his additional album ‘Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)’. 

Role Model's personality was brought to life through ‘Kansas Anymore’, which was released back in July 2024, during his time supporting Gracie Abrams on her ‘The Secret Of Us Tour’. He started teasing this deluxe edition during his Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour with the newly added track ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’. 

‘Kansas Anymore’ is nothing short of a hit; after its initial release, songs quickly started to blow up on social media sites, especially TikTok, and before we knew it, it was all in our faces. ‘Slipfast’ took over ‘for you pages’ as it delves into themes of escapism and pressures of relationships, which was quickly turned into a trend revolving around friendships and letting go of said relationships- letting fans pursue their own take on the song. 

The album opens with an upbeat but short tune ‘Writings On The Wall’ it carries a catchy chorus with a memorable hook, instantly making people want to listen to the remainder of the album. ‘Look At That Woman’ is the most streamed song within his discography; after entering the music charts on Spotify, the track executes a light and carefree vibe with a hint of classic 70's rock. “Breaking my heart / She’s breaking my heart” are lyrics repeated throughout the hit with layers of harmonies and classic guitar riffs, helping delve deeper into the theme of a “broken heart” which is shown throughout all the songs, whether on the deluxe edition or standard. 

‘Deeply Still In Love’ is the album's most upbeat track with a mix of piano and guitar, creating the perfect blend of happiness through tune to help disguise the track as a hard-hitting reflection upon past failed relationships. The song has to be one of the happiest breakup songs to be released with themes of longing combined with a tune that makes people want to dance around their room at 3am. 

With a feature from Lizzy McAlpine, ‘So Far Gone’ is one of the more vulnerable tracks, with the use of effortless harmonies between the two, setting the scene of past lovers singing to one another creating a hard-hitting song of love and heartbreak. 

The Deluxe album introduces four new songs: ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’, ‘Old Recliners’, ‘Some Protector’ and the album’s title ‘The Longest Goodbye’. 

Gaining over 150 Million views across videos on TikTok, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ was teased over the last couple of months running up to its initial release; it covers recurring themes throughout his music, such as drinking, throughout lyrics “Please don't go falling in love / Then disappear when the wine runs out”. With a fast pop-beat and a mix of guitar riffs and drums, the song covers sensitive topics in a positive light, carrying on with the recurring cheerful breakup ballads. 

‘Old Recliners’, however, takes a slower approach within this new mix of songs, reflecting upon the missed moments within secure relationships. Tucker is stuck in the memories of this relationship: “Thinking ‘bout you / In the moment”, using acoustic guitar throughout the melodies, producing an infectious and punching chorus that you can’t help but sing along to as the song progresses. This progresses within ‘Some Protector’ as the acoustic harmonies increase as he acknowledges the understanding that he is still holding onto that past relationship but doesn’t know how to navigate that feeling. “Why / Yes I Am / And I , always will” expands on the sentiment as he continues to sing “Am I sounding like a fool?”   introducing rhetorical thoughts throughout the lyrics to help further reflect on his feelings and awareness. 

Closing the album is ‘The Longest Goodbye’, which creates a beautifully melodic and soothing ambience with the use of trombone and acoustic guitar as he says goodbye to not only the relationship but also the album, as he uses all past reflections expressed throughout the previous songs to say his final goodbyes. “I don’t think you love me anymore / I don’t think I love you anymore” brings the music to a close, unleashing a new and surprising feeling where Tucker believes that he doesn’t love his past lover anymore. However, due to the overhaul of emotions felt throughout this relationship, it is apparent that some feelings will forever stick. Still, the awareness of his urge to move on is very much apparent. 

'Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)' is the perfect curation of love and pain with the willingness to move on, with its lyricism acting as words stripped from a personal diary of self-reflection after moving on from a relationship. Releasing this on Valentine's Day creates a perfect closing chapter for this album alongside the relationship, as it opens doors for him to move on and make new memories successfully, something many people would want to do that day. 

Olivia Davis

@livssetlist

Image: ‘Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)’ Official Album Cover

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