Rating: 7.5/10
The dynamic three-man band Wallows released its expressive EP “More” on Friday. It features a 21-minute collection of seven songs that express themes of love and rediscovering one’s identity.
This is the third EP the band has released since their last studio album, “Model.” In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the band spoke about its creative process.
“We’ve let go of any anxious tendencies that we used to have,” drummer Cole Preston said. “We’ve learned to loosen up and embrace instincts.”
The opening track, “Not Alone,” leads with Dylan Minnette’s and Braeden Lemasters’ vocals paired with a funky analog synth.
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Lemasters sings, “It’s dark in the place where you used to be / And all I have’s a shadow that you left for me,” setting the tone of heartbreak that trails through the rest of the EP.
The vocals pause at the two-minute mark and the synths pierce through to the song’s forefront. The brief silence allows for reflection on personal experiences before the steady drumbeat reintroduces the lyrics.
While Wallows takes inspiration from other genres, the band does not shy away from establishing its own unique sound. “More” includes heavy influences of ‘80s synth-pop combined with modern indie instrumental aesthetics.
“I feel like our sound is ever-evolving, and we don’t exactly know how to describe it yet,” Minnette said in an interview with House of Solo.
The second track, “Deep Dive,” features airy synths layered beneath Minnette’s and Lemasters’ tit-for-tat-style chorus. The lyrics juxtapose drowning in a pool with constantly thinking about someone.
“Coffin Change” introduces a hastier, more urgent strumming pattern and explores the topic of societal fixation on monetary value.
“Pinching all my pennies ‘til they shove me in my coffin,” Lemasters shouts. This serves as a critique of modern capitalistic greed, arguing that life’s worth is not dependent on how much money one takes to the grave.
“Hide It Away” features a prominent bass line and erratic guitar tabs that resemble a coming-of-age film. This song captures the existential conflict of growing up and establishing your identity. Meanwhile, the title describes the human instinct to “hide away” internal emotions to appear “okay.”
In the House of Solo interview, Wallows discussed its influences outside of music.
“I would say, recently, paintings and film have been influences on songwriting in a way that I never really did before or have before, in a cool and subtle way,” Lemasters said.
The band draws inspiration from different forms of media, such as movies, and repurposes them to create instrumentals.
Switching back to a slower tempo, “Your New Favorite Song” exhibits a gloomy feel. The melancholic trumpet flows in and out of the song’s progression and is contrasted with quick, light notes of a xylophone.
“We can think on the years that go by,” he whispers. “Or we can count all the tears that we’ve cried.” In this verse, Minnette drags out the words “by” and “cried” to emphasize the feeling of longing for someone you once knew.
The second-to-last song, “Learn to Love Again,” is a rollercoaster of captivating energy. The tempo starts with slow piano chords and eventually picks up with a faster drumming sequence. This track encourages fans to ponder the meaning of love.
Wrapping up the EP, the band ends with an alternate, condensed version of track two titled “Deep Dive – Reprise.” The clean guitar tone emits a hopeful chord progression while the twinkling piano notes create a dream-like ambiance. It compels listeners to rock their heads from side to side, instilling a genuine feeling of happiness.
Wallows’ ability to produce optimistic instrumentals and its transparency about the trials of love promote “More” to a larger audience. They create a nostalgic atmosphere by rigging vocal effects and banding together different guitar tones, making the EP truly different from their other works.
