lovestruck

lovestruck is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Donovan Music, released on October 28, 2024. Initially slated for release on May 18, 2024, the album faced delays due to production challenges and an extensive reworking of its content. Clocking in at 1 hour and 23 minutes, lovestruck explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, solidifying Donovan’s reputation as a compelling storyteller with a knack for blending deeply personal lyrics with diverse pop rock instrumentation.

The album is technically titled lovestruck: the backside edition, with its deluxe tracks beginning at “california.” Originally conceived as lovestruck: love and loss edition, the album was initially planned to include 30 tracks but was scaled back due to time constraints.

Background and Development

Work on lovestruck began after the release of Donovan’s debut studio album, tokyo skies. Initially envisioned as an expansive double album focusing on the highs and lows of love, lovestruck underwent significant revisions during production. Donovan chose to focus on 23 tracks, weaving a narrative that balances raw emotion with anthemic energy.

The album’s production faced a notable oversight: the track “pretty” was unintentionally excluded from streaming service tracklists upon release. Additionally, the planned inclusion of “concept of hate” was scrapped due to its controversial lyrical themes, most notably its provocative line, “the concept of hate is stronger than the concept of god.”

Deluxe tracks, beginning with “california,” offer a reflective conclusion to the album. Notably, “everything I’m not (reprise)” transitions seamlessly into “night shift,” the opening track of Donovan’s third studio album, no surprises, creating a thematic bridge between the two records.

Themes and Style

lovestruck delves into the complexities of love, exploring its beauty and pain in equal measure. Tracks like “life of the party” and “gasoline” capture the intoxicating highs of infatuation, while songs such as “anxiety” and “bite back” delve into the darker, more tumultuous aspects of relationships. Despite its emotional depth, lovestruck maintains a strong pop rock foundation, punctuated by anthemic hooks and introspective ballads.

The album includes three explicit tracks (“anxiety,” “swimming pool,” and “bite back”), which stand out for their unfiltered intensity. The rumored single “blue eyes” is often cited as the emotional centerpiece of the album, though no confirmation has been made regarding its official release as a single.

Track Listing

Standard Edition

1. lovestruck (intro)

2. gasoline

3. life of the party

4. beauty is pain

5. moonlight (promotional single)

6. l-o-v-e

7. i can do it all by myself again

8. anxiety

9. swimming pool

10. intertwined

11. clouds

12. all over now

13. everything I’m not

14. another stupid love song

15. fifteen

16. blue eyes

17. everything I’m not (reprise)

18. california

19. bite back

20. i hate october

21. pretty

22. final forever

23. paris

24. what they’ll all say

25. sundown

Unreleased and Bonus Material

Donovan released a demo of the song “pretty” on SoundCloud, which was initially slated to appear on the scrapped love and loss edition of lovestruck. The track gained attention for its haunting lyrics and raw production, leaving fans speculating about its potential future release.

Reception and Legacy

Upon its release, lovestruck received critical acclaim for its ambitious scope and emotional resonance. Critics praised Donovan’s ability to balance deeply personal lyrics with radio-friendly production. While some lamented the exclusion of “concept of hate,” the decision to streamline the album was generally seen as a positive step toward cohesive storytelling.

With lovestruck serving as the foundation for Donovan’s artistic evolution, the album’s deluxe edition and its connections to future projects, such as no surprises, hint at a deeper, overarching narrative in his discography. Fans and critics alike regard lovestruck as a turning point, showcasing Donovan’s growth as both a songwriter and storyteller.