For a little under five years, I’ve been a fan of ROLE MODEL (nee Tucker Pillsbury), a singer-songwriter who blew up after opening Gracie Abrams' tour, “The Secret of Us.”
In July 2024, before he toured with Abrams, Pillsbury released his sophomore album, “Kansas Anymore,” which detailed heartbreak, after his Sep. 2023 split from internet-icon Emma Chamberlain.
Last month, on Valentine’s Day (very appropriate may I say), Pillsbury released the deluxe version of this album, closing the chapter of his three-year romance and breakup with Chamberlain.
The original album has 13 songs. For the deluxe, Pillsbury added four new ones: “Old Recliners,” “Sally When the Wine Runs Out,” “Some Protector,” and “The Longest Goodbye.”
As a longtime fan of Pillsbury, here is my review of “Kansas Anymore: The Longest Goodbye.”
Side note: I attended his concert in Brooklyn on March 15 and I heard these songs live.
1. "Old Recliners"
In an interview with Travis Mills for Apple Music, Pillsbury said that “Old Recliners,” is about someone he grew up with. In the song, Pillsbury rehashes this childhood lover of his, creating visual scenes of summer, playing cards, and hanging up lights. He reflects on these moments, sharing that he still thinks about this person from his past.
He sings: “I remember when the days were long/Old recliners in the yard/Kicking heels up to a favorite song.”
Although this song doesn’t fit into the album’s theme, it is still a very nostalgic-feeling song. When I listen to it, I’m reminded of long summers. The tune reminds me of the sun-setting, playing outside, and going to the beach (anything associated with nostalgic summers).
There’s a lyric at the end that stabs me in the heart: “Now you cry all night 'til the morning/In the arms of someone you settled for.”
This lyric is heart-wrenching because it highlights Pillsbury’s longing for an old lover, emphasizing that said lover is settling for a relationship undeserved. He emphasizes how this hurts him because he knows they belong together.
At his Brooklyn show, Pillsbury sang this song. I loved it more when it was live, compared to the recording. It had a different energy to it, which I enjoyed, and it was one of the songs I stayed in the moment for, rather than pulling out my phone to record.
I do love this song, but it is not my favorite from the deluxe. Although I love the tune, and the lyrics, I give it an 8/10.
2. "Sally, When The Wine Runs Out"
In January, a few weeks before releasing the deluxe, Pillsbury heavily teased the song, “Sally When The Wine Runs Out.” He posted many videos of him dancing to a short clip of the song, which stirred up excitement for the deluxe album.
Weeks before the deluxe came out, Pillsbury added this song to his setlist, as he is currently on his own tour, “No Place Like Home.”
The initial TikTok of Pillsbury dancing to this song, I strongly believe, helped the song go viral. His unserious nature, in dancing videos alike, attracts viewers, drawing new listeners into Pillsbury’s humor—a truly captivating aspect of his personality which I love.
The part of the song that has gone viral, has its own designated TikTok dance. Pillsbury sings: “Aw, shit, here we go again, I'm falling headfirst/Ankles hit the two-step, Sally makes my head hurt/Heard through the grapevine, she can be a diva/Cold like Minnesota hotter than a fever.”
He also uploaded a music video, making this song the only one on the deluxe with one. I think that goes to show the virality of the song. Even better, Pillsbury dances through a mall, in the music video, further highlighting his personality and the reason why the song blew up.
The song is funky and fun, with an old-school vibe. It is the one song out of the deluxe that is truly danceable. I love how catchy it is and how memorizable the lyrics are. This song makes me smile, and I love how it never fails to put me in a good mood.
This song was exciting to hear live. The room was energetic as fans sang and danced along (myself as well, the vibe of the song is contagious). Pillsbury danced across the stage with a fan being brought on to be his “Sally.”
To me, this song indicates Pillsbury’s transition in music writing and in his life—finding love after heartbreak. I give it a 9.5/10.
3. "Some Protector"
In “Some Protector,” Pillsbury sings about how his former lover is moving on. He reminds her that he’ll always be a protector, reiterating that he’ll always be worried about her, although they are no longer together.
There’s a lyric that pulls at heartstrings: “Am I thinking ‘bout September.” Pillsbury directly refers to his breakup with Chamberlain, which feels real and raw, bringing out the true theme of the song.
Pillsbury sings further about feeling worried he won’t find someone else, wrecking his reputation, and watching his former lover get into a new relationship. He details the hardships that come with a breakup while reinforcing the fact that he’ll always care for Chamberlain.
This song made me sad because Pillsbury fights between still caring, feeling guilty, and missing the relationship. It encapsulates what it’s like to end a relationship with no hardship.
I adored hearing this one live. Fans swayed and put on their phone flashlights, which really added to the melancholy nature of the song. This was the one song I put my phone down, just to be in the moment. I’ll never forget how this sounded.
This song is my favorite on the deluxe. 10/10.
4. "The Longest Goodbye"
A “Toy Story” type song—this has been an ongoing joke amongst Pillsbury’s fans for “The Longest Goodbye,” the final track.
What I love about this song is the switch between the lyrics—Pillsbury telling his former lover that he knows she doesn’t love him anymore, to him realizing he doesn’t love her anymore. It’s a progression made throughout the song.
Pillsbury first rehashes the breakup in verse two: “It was a Sunday morning, hanging by a shoelace/Felt like you were starting a war/Now you're changing and moving, I'll take my ass to Houston/'Cause I don't think you love me anymore.”
After asserting that this has been the longest goodbye of his life, as it’s been hard for him to let go, he moves into verse four. He mentions why the relationship ended, how his ex-lover has moved on, and how he needs to leave all of this in the past. It allows him to make the final line a punch: "I don't think I love you anymore/But I don't think I'll ever be so sure."
I love this song because it shows the transition period through heartbreak moving on, and accepting what happened. I love how Pillsbury added in saxophone, which makes the song feel like this is an end to an old show or movie.
I believe this song is a perfect chapter closer to Pillsbury’s relationship, and an end to the era of “Kansas Anymore.” To me, it indicates that Pillsbury is ready to start a new chapter of his life.
This song was interesting to hear live, but I think I like the recording much better. In the Brooklyn show, Pillsbury started to lose his voice from a cold, so some songs he didn’t sing some lyrics and (if I remember correctly) this is one of the songs he struggled with.
Regardless of the live performance, this is my second favorite on the deluxe. 10/10.
This deluxe album rocked my world last month. As a long-time listener and fan of Pillsbury’s, seeing him create meaningful music, and watching him get the praise he deserves online has been rewarding. I am obsessed with every new song to the fullest, and I will continue cheering him on.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store next, but as for now, I cherish the memories of his Brooklyn show.
Dominique Mercadante is the head editor for The Setonian’s Campus Life section. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
