There’s something deeply comforting and equally confrontational about an artist who can take the messy, tangled threads of dating and solitude, and spin them into songs that feel like pages ripped straight from your own journal. Cleo Handler’s debut album compare & contrast, released April 4, 2025, is exactly that — a raw, sharp-witted, and emotionally fearless indie rock confessional that captures the absurdity, ache, and occasional hilarity of figuring out what (and who) you actually want.
Handler isn’t new to storytelling — she’s a longtime lyricist in the Advanced BMI Songwriting Workshop and an award-winning indie filmmaker and music video director (having previously worked with artists like Amy Helm on Sun Records). But compare & contrast is her most personal project to date, a stripped-down, emotionally intelligent collection of 13 songs that weave between deadpan humor and deep self-reflection without ever missing a beat. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Claire Morison at Wild Horizon Sound, alongside musicians Wayne Whittaker and Greg Settino, the album’s production leans into lo-fi intimacy, letting the lyrics take the spotlight — and rightfully so.
At the heart of compare & contrast is a moment of unexpected inspiration, born from a break-up that sounds like it could have been scripted for an offbeat indie rom-com — if it weren’t, you know, real. “Someone I was seeing told me their therapist thought it was important they keep dating other people to ‘compare and contrast,’” Handler shares. Initially gutting and borderline absurd, the phrase stuck with her, evolving from insult to insight. The album doesn’t just dissect that one moment — it expands on it, using it as a lens through which to examine every awkward, hopeful, and heartbreaking encounter that leads us closer to ourselves.
From the jittery self-consciousness of “marathon” to the fragile euphoria of “easy,” the tracklist moves like a map of emotional landmines and quiet revelations. “funny seeing you here” delivers the kind of deadpan honesty that makes you laugh and wince at the same time, while “suspension of disbelief” floats through the denial stage of romance with dreamy detachment. Then there’s “rules,” a biting anthem for anyone who’s ever written down non-negotiables, only to break every one of them.
Handler’s vocals, equal parts sardonic and sincere, often feel like she’s whispering directly to you — not for dramatic effect, but because that’s just how close she lets you in. The album’s standout moments aren’t necessarily the loudest or most polished; they’re the lines you didn’t expect to hit so hard. In “maybe you’ve noticed,” there’s a subtle tension between wanting to be understood and realizing you might never be. “think about you” wrestles with memory and longing without sugarcoating a single second of it.
Then there’s “galway” and “summer,” two tracks that feel like they’ve been playing in the background of your life all along — only now they’ve been given lyrics. “bubbles” and “break into 3” take on the odd shapes heartbreak can twist itself into, and the closing track, “happy baby,” somehow manages to be both gut-punchingly sad and oddly soothing. It’s the musical equivalent of lying on the floor in the dark and finally feeling okay with not having all the answers.
Handler’s DIY ethos isn’t just sonic — it’s visual, too. The three official music videos (for “marathon,” “rules,” and “easy”) were all directed and edited by her, using a nostalgic home movie aesthetic that adds even more texture to the album’s themes. These visuals — part playful, part poignant — complement her lyrical style perfectly: nothing’s too precious, but everything’s packed with meaning.
Musically, compare & contrast draws from indie-rock icons like Liz Phair and Wet Leg, channeling their blend of cleverness and cool detachment. There are also nods to Olivia Rodrigo’s rawness, Mannequin Pussy’s punky bite, and Beach Bunny’s emotional clarity. But even with these sonic references, Cleo Handler’s voice — both literal and metaphorical — stands completely on its own.
The album is ultimately about more than dating or being alone. It’s about re-learning how to trust yourself after you’ve spent too long ignoring that little voice in your head. It’s about figuring out what you need and having the guts to walk away from anything that doesn’t give it to you. And maybe most of all, it’s about finding humor in heartbreak, clarity in confusion, and a little bit of power in being the one who finally calls the shots.
compare & contrast isn’t just a collection of songs — it’s a full-on experience, tailor-made for anyone who’s ever sat with their own discomfort and thought, “Okay, but what now?” In Cleo Handler’s world, that question isn’t something to fear — it’s the beginning of the best conversations.
You can stream the album now and check out the videos at cleohandler.com. Trust us — you’re going to want to compare and contrast this one to whatever else you’ve been listening to lately.
