Schoolmates Alexander Gow and Thomas Savage conceived Oh Mercy as an equal showcase of their individual singing and songwriting. And though Gow would carry on the mantle alone after this 2009 debut album so that Savage could pursue solo work, there’s a strong bond between their approaches here. Privileged Woes dishes out catchy, articulate indie pop right from the funky licks of opener “Lay Everything On Me,” with “Seemed Like a Good Idea” carrying on that crisp melodic snap and knowing lyricism. Though the album title pokes fun at these private-school graduates airing their grievances, the songs are decidedly universal. Meanwhile, Myles Wootton’s production gives dreamy depth to the pair’s easygoing songwriting synergy, whether the lead instrument is guitar or piano. It’s all quite stately and immaculate, though “Met a Wizard” brandishes an extended tide of stormy reverb and “Can’t Fight It” sharpens its hooks to stinging effect. Gow would later muss up Oh Mercy’s signature neatness even more on 2012’s sweaty and swaggering Deep Heat and 2015’s emotionally far-reaching When We Talk About Love before zagging into electronics with Perfect Moment and finally making his own solo debut (under his own name, at least) in 2023.