I Barely Know Her is a complex and emotional roller coaster that makes even the happiest people feel despair. Artist Shane Michael Boose, who goes by the stage name Sombr, released his debut album on August 22, 2025 on all major streaming platforms and the music does not disappoint.
Boose, who has been internet famous for some time now, is known for his indie rock-like tunes and alternative style. Many of his songs have been played on radio stations and he has over 690,000 subscribers on YouTube.
The 10-track album contains his hit songs: “12 to 12”, “Back To Being Friends”, “Undressed”, and “We Never Dated”. These singles had been released prior to the album and were many fan favorites. Other songs such as Crushing, Come Closer, and Under The Mat were all new songs that appeared with the release of the album.
Already a fan of Sombr’s music, I had high expectations for his debut and how it would sound. I can proudly say that after listening to the full album with no stops, I was not left disappointed; I really enjoyed it.
The first track Crushing tells the story of a person wishing they could go back to the start of a relationship and reflecting on sudden heartbreak. The song isn’t too overpowering and has a light, almost slowed down tune.
The next few songs are ones I had previously heard and already really liked. The song “12 to 12” was one of the least depressing songs and has a 70s upbeat melody. This song focuses on a person who is so captivated by a girl to the point where they lose track of themselves. Its music video has been viewed over 15 million times and is a fan favorite.
Canal Street was the one song off the album I didn’t really enjoy. The tune is very bland and lacks a good beat. While his other songs aren’t exciting lyrically, they have nice instrumentals that complement the lyrics perfectly. I didn’t really see this in that track.
While that song disappointed me a bit, it didn’t take away from the whole album. Track eight was by far my favorite song off the album. As depressing as the song is, the lyrics are so descriptive and really add to the feeling of emptiness. I think Sombr really proved how good of a storyteller he is with this song. He conveys his main messages of vulnerability and emotional struggle.
If anyone has heard his songs on the radio or as background music on a video, they should listen to the rest of his music. This album is perfect for teens getting over a harsh heartache or for those into 70s music.
Overall, the album perfectly captures how it feels to be young and go through a breakup, while also keeping it catchy and memorable. It is definitely one of my new favorite albums and I will most likely replay it many times.
