Irish folk-rock singer, Andrew Hozier’s sophomore album Wasteland, Baby! switches up his music style from melancholic to more lighthearted alternative rock. It’s nice to see Hozier still delivering songs with the same emotional weight as his previous album, and in some cases bringing in more powerful performances.
It’s unfortunate that almost every song on the album that isn’t a single is just there. They’re good songs, but only one of them feel as powerful as tracks like “Nina Cried Power,” or “Dinner and Diatribes.” And only one other is as emotional as “Shrike,” or “Movement.”
Both songs, “Would That I” and “Wasteland, Baby!” have similar themes, however the two have very different tones. They paint love as a destructive force, but have the same outlook that it is beautiful and only new things can come from it. It describes it as comforting while at the same time being frightening.
However, “Nina Cried Power” is the only song I’d recommend everybody listen to, it’s an excellent song about his continuation of making music with the same messages as those of his inspirations.
Otherwise every other song is lackluster. Production-wise they’re pretty standard material from Hozier. Lyrically, they’re well-written, but their delivery is awfully similar to each other.
I’m disappointed in the album, and expected it to be better than his debut album. I think it almost got there, but there was just something from this project that leaves me feeling empty. It really does pain me to admit to not liking this album as much, especially since his music is usually high quality, but I’m ranking this album a 5/10.
I still recommend that you check it out, but only if you have nothing else you’d want to listen to. Don’t go out of your way to stream it, unless you’re an avid Hozier fan. That’s really all there is to say about this album, it’s plain with a few bits of flavor thrown here and there.
It’s unfortunate that almost every song on the album that isn’t a single is just there. They’re good songs, but only one of them feel as powerful as tracks like “Nina Cried Power,” or “Dinner and Diatribes.” And only one other is as emotional as “Shrike,” or “Movement.”
Both songs, “Would That I” and “Wasteland, Baby!” have similar themes, however the two have very different tones. They paint love as a destructive force, but have the same outlook that it is beautiful and only new things can come from it. It describes it as comforting while at the same time being frightening.
However, “Nina Cried Power” is the only song I’d recommend everybody listen to, it’s an excellent song about his continuation of making music with the same messages as those of his inspirations.
Otherwise every other song is lackluster. Production-wise they’re pretty standard material from Hozier. Lyrically, they’re well-written, but their delivery is awfully similar to each other.
I’m disappointed in the album, and expected it to be better than his debut album. I think it almost got there, but there was just something from this project that leaves me feeling empty. It really does pain me to admit to not liking this album as much, especially since his music is usually high quality, but I’m ranking this album a 5/10.
I still recommend that you check it out, but only if you have nothing else you’d want to listen to. Don’t go out of your way to stream it, unless you’re an avid Hozier fan. That’s really all there is to say about this album, it’s plain with a few bits of flavor thrown here and there.