Will Hick ‘27
Staff Writer
Here I am, back again with another album review. This week, I will review a new EP that was released at the end of March by the Wallows, who are an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Before reviewing this album, I need to make clear that I am biased towards this band because I frequently listen to their album, Model. Other than this album, I am not familiar with much of their other music. This short album consists of only seven songs and I will be listening to them for the first time during this review. Similarly to my other reviews, I will go track by track, primarily analyzing their lyrics while also focusing on their distinctive sounds.
The first song, “Not Alone,” shares Dylan Minnette’s story of re-adjusting to his life after a failed relationship, and the troubles that come with it. The Wallows highlight the “pictures in [their] head working overtime” and the fact that they “didn’t want to let this go,” which shows their good memories coming back to them in a negative light. This track displays a fast paced beat that really emphasizes the depressed, isolated feeling of Minnette. Next, “Deep Dive” continues the story by taking a further look into Minnette’s mind to see his intentions with his ex. He is described to have the best intentions in mind, as he would “never run [their] heart around” and would always be “honest.” The instrumentals and overall vibe throughout the song makes it seem as if Minnette is desolate and searching for his own meaning. The third song is titled “Coffin Change,” and it gives the message that nothing in life really matters. But, this song also helps raise the question of how we are intended to live our lives: should we focus on tangible assets and our bank accounts, or should we focus on our family and happiness? The sad feeling of “Deep Dive” is carried into this track, despite its quick beat and intense sound.
The next track, “Hide It Away,” begins with Minnette questioning his past and then continues on by exclaiming that “Asking questions doesn’t help ‘cause [he is] fine.” The electricity radiating off the guitars and keyboard progresses the intensity of the story. However, the slow rhythm and Minnette’s calming voice in “Your New Favorite Song” discontinue the sense of chaos that he experiences. This song makes him seem hopeless because he has written a song for his ex, despite the fact that his ex is no longer part of his life. In the next song, “Learn to Love Again,” Minnette is convinced deep in his soul that he is destined to be with his ex and that one day, she will love him back. The mini-album concludes with a reprise of “Deep Dive” to put further emphasis on his intentions. I believe that the Wallows decided to do this to symbolize the song as a vow towards Minnette’s past girlfriend.
More demonstrates to the audience to not give up on love. By examining the Wallows’ raw emotions, we can take away that relationships can be messy and that everyone faces confusing, complicated emotions. In this EP, the Wallows’ displayed the changes in mood excellently with various instruments and tempos. The lyrical spotlight of the week is “My mind can stray and wonder if you think of me, But either way, we’re still not alone” from “Not Alone.” These words highlight Minnette’s mental struggles towards his past relationship and how he hopes that his love for her is mutual. More was easy to listen to and its lyrics were typically straightforward. For having lyrics that I would say ‘tell’ rather than ‘show,’ I would give this EP an overall rating of 7.5/10.
Featured image courtesy of Spotify
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