Lily Forte Blends Rock ‘n’ Roll Nostalgia With Modern Reflection on Don’t Gild The Lily

By Lex Robbins

There’s something quietly defiant about an album titled Don’t Gild The Lily. The phrase itself suggests beautiful restraint; that there is beauty in what already is. On this album, Lily Forte leans fully into that philosophy. Across eleven tracks, she trades gloss for honesty and heartbreak for self-respect. The result is a record that feels both intimately personal and sonically timeless.

The title track, “Don’t Gild The Lily,” opens the album with confidence and is the perfect introduction to Forte’s tone and perspective. Lyrics like “Reach me on the landline, I gave up that phone ’cause it’s so good all on my own” establish independence. There’s brilliant subtext within that line, alluding to a refusal to overcomplicate and a desire to return to the simplicity of life that is lost in the modern world.

“Stardust” follows with vulnerability. Anchored by the lyric “How long is this gonna take, how many feelings do I have to fake,” the song captures the exhaustion of chasing a dream that’s taking longer than expected. But rather than folding under that weight, Forte leans into perseverance. It’s an anthem for anyone in the in-between.

Then comes the deeply nostalgic “Florida’s Finest.” It feels like returning to the days of a pre-algorithm world. “I miss iTunes, my downloaded songs” and “I miss movies, scratched up DVDs,” hit with bittersweetness that truly takes the listener back in time. It’s a standout track and the one that continues to linger with me the most.

“Golden Sunshine” then takes over with warmth, devotion, and dreamy production. Lines like “Sang my heart out in the living room, ’til we moved to bigger stages” and “The other guys tested my patience, freedom’s finding me in my blue-eyed baby” capture both her artistic journey and the feeling of falling in love. “Miles to Go” then shifts this energy. There’s a clear edge here that serves as a realization that this person no longer deserves her. The track carries a distinctly ’70s spirit that instantly brought Daisy Jones & The Six to mind.

On “Jimi and Janis,” Forte incorporates musical history into her own story. The title nods to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, while lyrical references to Joni Mitchell (“I heard the news today in a big yellow taxi”) and Bob Dylan (“The answer isn’t blowing in the wind”) create a layered tribute to some of the artists who inspire her. “I only heard the truth in the etch of the rock ’n’ roll hits” stands out as a mission statement for Forte and the album. It’s a feel-good, turn-it-up track that still has depth and meaning.

“Out of the Blue” moves in with another surge of diva energy. This track is anchored by a chorus that was destined to be belted at sunset while driving with the windows down. “Hope your new life holds you like I used to do” is a lyric that I will never forget hearing.

“The Luckiest” continues the breakup narrative, but from a place of reclamation. There’s a smoky, cinematic quality here, reminiscent of Lana Del Rey with a hint of Amy Winehouse’s emotional depth. Instead of dwelling in sadness, Forte is reclaiming her power.

“Baby Burnt Us Down” leads into a shift in the album. This one is stripped back to soft piano with strong vocals and lyrics taking the main focus. It’s a beautifully honest ballad about missing someone and fully embracing that feeling of sadness for a while.

“Loners on the West” circles back to the longing we first hear in “Stardust,”  but here, the uncertainty feels even more grounded. “But I, I keep singing, I’ll keep singing” becomes a mantra to keep going. The track captures that pivotal shift from comparison to commitment, and choosing to keep going even though the timeline might not look exactly the way you imagined.

The album closes with the track “Beauty in Everything,” a fitting and gentle conclusion that ties the entire project together. “I found my heaven in my record collection” is a lyric that carries real weight, especially on an album so rooted in nostalgia and appreciation for music’s past. It feels personal, but also universal for everyone. The track encourages finding beauty in the madness and calm in the chaos. It’s a beautiful closing statement that leaves you with a perspective we could all use more of.

At its core, Don’t Gild The Lily is an album rooted in authenticity. While listening, I kept feeling transported to California on a coastal drive with the windows down and the volume up. The album is immersive in this way because Forte doesn’t chase trends or overproduce the sound. Instead, she builds a body of work that honors rock ‘n’ roll, perseverance, heartbreak, and joy in equal measure.