When In May: Cheap Red Wine Is the Indie Rock Breakup Anthem You Didn’t Know You Needed
REVIEW
9 Lounges Team
8/11/2025
Lyrics That Sting and Stick
What makes Cheap Red Wine so compelling isn’t just its melody—it’s the way the lyrics bite. Lines like "I’d be better off getting stoned than stoned by you" and "You’re my biggest mistake I’ve made least today" carry a self-deprecating wit that makes you smirk even while you feel the sting.
This is a breakup anthem without the usual clichés. Instead of leaning into melodrama, When In May leans into the absurd, poking fun at both themselves and their failed romance. It’s messy, human, and entirely relatable.
Indie rock thrives on moments that feel bigger than life, and When In May has captured exactly that with their debut single Cheap Red Wine. Released on October 27, 2023, the track served as the lead single from their first EP, Lying About Silly Things. It wasn’t just an introduction—it was a declaration.
From the moment the band teased their debut earlier that year, fans and curious listeners alike expected something unique. What they delivered was a witty, swagger-filled track drenched in pop rock energy and a cheeky, self-aware lyrical style.
The Sound – Infectiously Annoying in the Best Way Possible
Cheap Red Wine wastes no time in pulling you in. The opening lines drip with sharp humor and emotional rawness: "I’m falling out of love with you tonight baby / We only get along with watered down liquor." It’s a lyrical cocktail of heartbreak, humor, and hazy late-night nostalgia.
Musically, it blends jangly guitars, punchy drums, and hooks that you can’t shake even if you tried. The band’s self-description as “the most pretentious indie you never heard of yet” isn’t arrogance—it’s a playful challenge to the listener to give them a shot. Chances are, you’ll be hooked before the first chorus hits.
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The Indie Rock Space Needs This
In a time when the indie scene can sometimes feel overcrowded, When In May stands out by not taking themselves too seriously while still delivering serious musical quality. Their songs aren’t just catchy—they’re memorable, the kind you replay not just because they sound good, but because they say something.
With Cheap Red Wine, they’ve proven they can make you laugh, nod, and sing along, all while crafting a track that feels like it belongs in a coming-of-age film.
The EP – Lying About Silly Things
While Cheap Red Wine is the headliner, the EP Lying About Silly Things offers more than just one strong track. It’s a cohesive debut project that blends indie rock’s familiar comfort with fresh, clever songwriting. Each track builds on the band’s unique personality, making it clear they’re here to make waves, not just background noise.