Wye Oak – The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs Reaction

4.5

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I stumbled onto Wye Oak a long while back with what I believe is still their biggest album to date, Civilian. I was just starting to dabble into folk and to say that their take on the genre was eye opening, would be a massive understatement. It was a project that became an instant favorite and found constant rotation in my ever expanding playlist. Now I’ve done a terrible job of keeping up with the band since, but I’ll always look on them with the fondest of memories.

While there’s still clear remnants of what made them so special on Civilian, The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs is substantially much brighter and has much more of a pop to it’s sound. It all feels decidedly more accessible but in reality their compositions are as dense and layered as ever, but the new synth and rhythm additions make their sound so much more expansive. And it’s the interplay between the bright expansive backdrop and the highly introspective lyrics, sung through her still incredibly beautiful airy vocals, that make this such a fulfilling listen. The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs is a proper evolution of their sound – simultaneously respectful of their past and boldy forward looking to a bright future.

1

Jack White – Boarding House Reach Reaction

Although Boarding House Reach is probably Jack White's most experimental project yet, there's heavy influences from blues, country, and most surprisingly funk, with entire songs dedicated to said genres, he still keeps that sincere approach to his music. All in all, it was an unexpectedly experimental album that's a mixed bag of good and bad, but the good largely outweighs the bad.

3.5

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2

AWOLNATION – Here Come The Runts Reaction

AWOLNATION's latest is probably the most pure rock and roll I've heard from them. No autotune, minimal electronics, just good clean playing, and I gotta say even though it's a drastic shift in sound for them, I enjoyed it. Here Come The Runts explores traditional rock's many faces but their sound is still passionate, high-energy music full of big intense vocals and anthem-like hooks.

3.7

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Apple Music

3

Marble Skies Reaction

While Django Django's previous efforts felt a bit more artsy in intention, the experimentation on Marble Skies feels done with the sole purpose of creating something fun. And it is fun, it's a lighthearted, head nodding romp full of brilliant melodies and earworm hooks. It's almost impossible not to be pulled into their joyous orbit.

4.7

Stars

Apple Music

“I search for patterns, sense that isn’t there
You can have everything, and still you have nothing
So I take them all apart, then I put them back
Sometimes it takes a long, long, long time”

See also

Music

Italian Rockers Leatherette Are Back with a Raucous New Single “Delusional”

Editorial Team

Have you heard The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs? What’d you think about it? Do you like the evolution Wye Oak has shown over the years? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions for the album.

Wye Oak – The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs Reaction

Conclusion

Wye Oak's latest feels decidedly more accessible than say "Civilian", but in reality their compositions are as dense and layered as ever, but the new synth and rhythm additions make their sound so much more expansive. And it's the interplay between the bright expansive backdrop and the highly introspective lyrics, sung through her still incredibly beautiful airy vocals, that make this such a fulfilling listen.

Fuego!!!

The Instrument

Symmetry

Over and Over

It Was Not Natural

4.5

Stars

iTunes