Written by Tom Bedding
Pale Waves arrived onto the scene during a period where guitar music was on the rise again, while also joining a label that included acts contributing to that resurgence. Their EP's and debut record at the time, was filled with a lot of fun hooks and obvious inspirations from the 00's, leading some not to give them sufficient credit that many thought was right.
Some of us though, felt, that if the Manchester band could step it up a gear, they would become not only more celebrated but more significantly, deemed truly important to UK Music. So, on the bands second record, Heather Baron-Gracie and co. truly do show a case for that and offer us an album filled with infectious hooks, with messages of self love and acceptance.
The opening and awesome track, 'Change', is such a joy. With it being the lead single too, the release of it felt like a great sign of intent by the Manchester band with such a huge bop of a song. The overall structure of the song, isn’t too complexed but it enables the hook of the song to hit home even more, getting right into your head and staying there.
Written later in the process of recording the LP, Heather wanted to write a song about heartbreak and the disappoint that comes with it (despite not experiencing such a fatal feeling). The frustration and passion come across nevertheless with such a might, it just offers you everything you need to feel.
Another standout aspect on this great single, is the vocals by Heather Baron Gracie, which sound even stronger than ever. Having ‘Change’ as the lead single and opening track for the second studio album is a good move, it smashes the door open showing off where the band have got to, since the debut LP.
The bad cycles of a turbulent relationships are spoken about on ‘Fall to Pieces', the last single we heard before the album was released. The guitars sound great but are hard to hear clearly in the mix during the chorus, while it should also be mentioned that this song feels like a nod to the first album, ‘My Mind Make Noises’.
Then another single is next in ‘She’s My Religion’, a great ode to how a partners impact on you can feel almost religious like. ‘She’s mad and she will never change, She’s no angel but she is my religion’ sings Heather over some subtle, dramatic drumming in the chorus. The mid tempo of it all is very impactful and the song has grown on me a lot since its release!
‘Easy’ has a very 00’s pop melody to it and the indie synth chorus, offers the variety that makes ‘Who Am I?’ a step up from Pale Wave’s debut record. There are little touches of record label mate’s, The 1975, here in the vocal melody too.
Though It has to be said, the resemblance of the iconic band does not happen anywhere else on the album, something that may please a lot of people. It does pain to say though, the song doesn’t go too far away from the hook sadly. The lack of adventure here makes you wish there was some sort of twist at some point in the last third of the track, it's a real shame.
The last song to be do for the album was ‘Wish You Here Here’, essentially birthed to sound like it was made in a bedroom and it does really feel like that! One thing I have really enjoyed about Pale Waves over the years is the drumming by Cira Doran, who really delivers such an amazing tone with the sticks on this track, they are for sure one of the standout aspects of the band.
The lyrics of the song talks about romance in the modern era, the lyrics of ‘sick of touching myself in the dark, I look at pictures of you and I’m getting nothing back’, probably is poking fun at how relationships can be with technology in the 21st century but there’s a lot of honest sentiment here.
We then go straight to the first song done for the groups second LP with, ‘Tomorrow’, understandably the song that pathed the way for what ‘Who Am I?’ became. Heather wanted to write a song for her fans, giving them something to find strength in and write lyrics that will resonate with fans in particular who are stuck in environments, that prevent them from flourishing and being themselves.
‘Hayley I know the magazines say to be skinny, you’re one of a kind trust me’ and ‘Ben, I know that you love a boy, sexuality isn’t a choice, don’t let anyone say it’s wrong’, which will became a fan favourite lyric I'm sure, are a few examples of the lyrics that will resonate with so many individuals, who are coming to terms with their sexuality and who they are.
The pop punk nature of, ‘You Don’t Owe Me’, gives the whole lyrical content even more punk and angst, it is a great piece of fun and an anthem of a song. Looking at sticking the finger to expectations society has for woman, the band deliver a great number that has great lyrical content, such as, ‘don’t make the first move, no, cause dignity can always wait, just learn to bite your tongue’. Im sure any woman can resonate with this songs state of intent and anger!!!
Pale Waves (Picture: Press)
Pale Waves had an ordeal after the band bus was in an accident while touring in Europe, luckily everyone involved was safe though. When the incident happened, Heather was not on the bus at the time, unlike her band members, though Im sure the traumatic experience still
‘I Just Needed You’ could have come from a place that originated from that traumatic time, as the songs sentiment is about how we do not need money and acclaim to be happy, simply how the people you love can make the bigger impact with your happiness. The acoustic nature of the song is wonderful, with Hugo Silvani doing an awesome job on guitar. Despite the chorus not making the grade, the song has a great message to it and a much needed moment during this part of the record.
‘Odd One’s Out’ then looks at wanting to stick to being the one who does not follow the same patterns as others, in particular with relationships and not having a ‘bad breakup’. The songs mix has a great blend of what we know already of Pale Waves but offering that acoustic embiliihesments, that we find on ‘Who Am I?’.
Next there is a letter of reassurance to our mothers about, I love that you care so much but hey, you don’t have to worry, I am okay mam. The chorus is infectious, with the tones of the guitars sounding so lush and beautiful.
To finish, the album gives us another turn of sounds from the band in the closing/title track….a piano. Heather sings along with gentle chords and captures the messages and tones of the whole album, in this dramatic and well constructed finale.
We don’t hear the band shifting into different entities throughout this album but they don’t need to, they keep you engaged with their catchy and powerful hooks with some subtle changes, that enable Pale Waves to step up another gear on their second studio album. The song, ‘Who Am I?’, questions how to live a life but the album itself gives some empowering advice on how to embrace and celebrate yourself.
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