Teasing the release of Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life with four successful singles, the Liverpudlian trio are back in the limelight.
It’s been three years since fans have heard from Murph, Dan and Tord but it seems like not a lot has changed. From the very beginning Beautiful People appears to have the usual components that the boys are known for, however, there’s something far more polished about the sound of this album, even in comparison to their previous release, Glitterbug.
Although there is promise melodically within most of the songs on this album, for me, it’s lyrically that the boys have fallen short. Perhaps it’s the professional trade-off made as a band that has put halt to the relatable stories told in their previous work, or is it that they are still relying on teenage angst to connect to their young fans, which just doesn’t seem to hit home anymore.
The Wombats have never shied away from trying to create what would become classic sing-along hits and for the most part of their career have been fruitful in doing so. Despite the fact there are numerous tracks on this album that have the potential to remain catchy, it certainly doesn’t live up to the punchiness of its predecessors.
Cheetah Tongue kicks off the album with a much more relaxed approach than expected but is able to hold onto some of the quirkier lyrical compositions that the album can boast. It’s about dealing with the pressures of adulthood and failing miserably, a topic that three thirty-somethings should be experts in, however, for the boys it seems almost hollow.
Five songs into the album and you’re greeted by a track that is a far throw from The Wombats that you’re used too. White Eyes can only be familiar because of Murph’s distinct vocals but the general style of the song is far more mature, however, not necessarily an improvement on the rougher, more hyperactive sounds of their earlier career.
Rounding off the album is what I believe to be the most successful track, I Don’t Know Why I Like You But I Do. Yet again, not what you expect from a crooning Wombats love song, but, in line with their new style, it manages to embody the awkwardness that has always underpinned the band. It has the most relatable lyrics on the album, seeming reminiscent of earlier work from the group. It definitely stands out from what could be called a mediocre piece of work.
Props to the band for being able to create a respectable collaboration from three separate locations around the globe, consummated by an assiduous two-weeks together in Oslo.
Although, as a fan of the group, I expected a lot more from their fourth album, it does have some merit in determination to remain current without selling out. The impression I get upon listening to Beautiful People is that the band seems to have stagnated but their EU and UK tour is almost sold out, giving a very different impression of how fans are receiving their newest work.
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