Obsession (The Driver Era album)

Obsession is the fourth studio album from American music duo the Driver Era, released on April 11, 2025, by TOO Records. The album features a sole guest appearance from Fern. Production was handled by the duo themselves, Rocky and Ross Lynch, alongside Morgan Taylor Reid. It serves as a follow up to their third studio album, Summer Mixtape (2022).

The album was preceded by the release of seven singles: "You Keep Me Up at Night", "Don't Walk Away", "Touch", "Same Old Story", along with "Don't Take the Night", "Can't Believe She Got Away" and "I'd Rather Die". To promote the release, the duo embarked on their sixth concert tour, Obsession Tour, which started on January 18, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand, and is set conclude in Los Angeles, United States, on July 18, 2025.

On September 16, 2022, the band released their third studio album, Summer Mixtape, through TOO Records.^[1] To promote the new album, the band embarked on a concert tour, Live On Tour '22, which ran for 57 cities across the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.^[2] They then announced they would be playing a sold-out concert at the Greek Theatre, in Los Angeles, on June 11, 2023, as part of their tour. The concert was recorded and released as their first live album, Live at the Greek (2023).^[3]

The band released their next single, "Rumors", on October 20, 2023,^[4] with its music video arriving a few weeks later.^[5] The song was called by Hannah Gadd, of the Red Brick, as a "perfect extension of their quintessential sound" while also displaying another side to the band's artistic world.^[6] Then, on February 22, 2024, the duo released the follow-up song "Get Off My Phone",^[7] which was also accompanied by an official music video.^[8] Teguan Harris of The Indiependent wrote that the single is an "exceptional song about heartbreak and anguish in the digital age and a new perspective on how haunting heartache can be" and that it is a "magnificent catalyst for [The Driver Era's] year in music".^[9]

On September 4, 2024, The Driver Era released a new song, "You Keep Me Up at Night", which served as the lead single for the upcoming album.^[11] The song was accompanied by a music video, released two weeks later.^[12] On October 23, 2024, the band released "Don't Walk Away" as the second single from Obsession.^[13] Then, "Touch" was released on December 17, 2024,^[14] serving as the third single from the album.^[15]

On January 28, 2025, The Driver Era announced their fourth studio album, titled Obsession,^[16] which is set to be released on April 11, 2025.^[17] Along with the album announcement, the band released "Same Old Story" as the fourth single.^[18] The band asked fans, through their social media accounts, to vote which song should be released as the next single.^[19] "Don't Take the Night" was released as the fifth single, on February 26, 2025, while "Can't Believe She Got Away" was released two days later.^[20] One month later, on March 28, 2025, the Driver Era released the seventh single, and last to be released prior to the album, "I'd Rather Die".^[21]

During one of their tour's stop, the band was interviewed for Billboard, when they gave the magazine an exclusive preview of their yet-to-be-released song, "The Weekend". Ross Lynch explained that the song talks about "wanting to connect with someone and be close to someone, but also having a fear of commitment".^[22]

To promote the release, the duo embarked on their sixth concert tour, Obsession Tour,^[23] which started on January 18, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand^[24] and is set conclude in Los Angeles, United States, on July 18, 2025.^[25] During the course of the tour, the duo is set to perform in Australia, New Zealand, as well as North and South America.^[26]

The song "Don't Walk Away" was described by Josh Sharpe, from the theater news website BroadwayWorld,^[27] as a groovy, upbeat song in which the band lean towards a confessional lyric style.^[28] Dom Vigil from Prelude Press described "Touch" as having a "dark, ambient bass that serves as a moody backdrop for Ross’ playful vocals".^[29] The single "Same Old Story" was described by Dom Vigil from Prelude Press as having a "bouncy, upbeat offering that gives an early glimpse into the earworms that fans can expect from the upcoming album". He further noticed that the song draws inspiration from 80s tones, with a "mixture of synths and a bright backing guitar".^[30]

Josh Sharpe from BroadwayWorld highlighted "immensely danceable groove" from the song "Don't Take the Night", noting its 70s disco inspirations.^[20] He also wrote that the band displayed they "deft touch as producers" on the song "Can't Believe She Got Away", which features multiple layers of "subtle sounds that add up to create the crunchy, soulful groove".^[20] Writing for Dork, Sam Taylor described the seventh single, "I'd Rather Die", as a "minimalist jazz-influenced" song in which the vocals are layered and supported by piano and drums.^[21]

Obsession received generally positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Clash, Rachel Min Leong called the album "fearless and expansive", describing the album as a blend of the band's previous records, Girlfriend (2021), for its confessional lyrics, and Summer Mixtape (2022), for the musical vibe. She highlighted the mix of rock and electro-pop sounds, which created an "introspection that sits between the spaces of adventure and exploration".^[31]

Daniela Avila, from People, wrote that Obsession is "worth obsessing over".^[33] Dork's Harry Shaw gave a four out of five review, complimenting the production's precision, which created a cohesive sound. The critic also positively commented on the themes and lyrics, circling around impermanence and transformation, and noted the album as the band's "most assured release to date", leaving a lasting impression to listeners.^[32]

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[34]

• Rocky Lynch – vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–13), production (1, 3–13), bass (3, 5, 6, 9–13), drums (3, 5, 9–13), guitar (3, 5, 6, 8–13), engineering (3, 6, 10, 11–13), programming (3, 5, 6, 10, 11–13)
• Ross Lynch – vocals (tracks 1–5, 7–13), production (1, 3–13), guitar (2, 8), engineering (3, 5, 6, 10, 11–13), keyboards (4)

• Morgan Taylor Reid – production (tracks 2, 7, 8), mixing (tracks 2, 4, 7); bass, drums, programming, engineering (4, 7, 8); vocals (4, 8), 12-string bass guitar (4), guitar (7, 8)
• Garrison Jones – production (track 9)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Bill Zimmerman – mixing (tracks 3, 11)
• Justin Stanley – mixing (tracks 6, 9)
• Erik Madrid – mixing (track 10)
• Sanjeevi Easwar – mixing assistance (track 10)
• Dave Briggs – drums (tracks 5, 6, 9–11)
• Ellington Ratliff – vocals (track 8)

• Obsession at Discogs (list of releases)