Wolf Alice are back with highly-anticipated album ‘Blue Weekend’—listen
Indie giants Wolf Alice have released their otherworldly new album Blue Weekend. Each track on this LP further cements the English rockers as one of the most dynamic quartets currently making music. As typical for Wolf Alice, their transcendental album features a crossroad of skillful instrumentation and dramatic lyrical themes.
While they’ve been compared to the likes of Hole and the xx, it’s hard to attribute Blue Weekend to anything short of pure originality. “The Beach” opens the album with slow, palm-muted guitar and lead singer Ellie Rowsell’s whispered falsetto as a gradual crescendo leads into “Delicious Things.” The album has taken a different direction in each song, from groovy drum fills and jazzy guitar riffs in “Delicious Things” to angsty, distorted bass lines in “Play The Greatest Hits.”
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Similar to most of the band’s releases, their most recent album isn’t afraid to get a little deep. “I ain’t ashamed in the fact that I’m sensitive/I believe that it is the perfect adjective,” Rowsell raps in “Smile.” Though the song is about brushing off the bullshit, so to speak, the following track “Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)” highlights the vulnerability the artist is willing to share.
“Proper wanted to say something about the new record but really still can’t find the right words,” bassist Theo Ellis wrote on Twitter. “I am so lucky to do this with these 3 ppl every day and am still in awe of them and their talents.”
Blue Weekend was released through UK-label Dirty Hit and is the band’s third full-length record. Their 2017 album Visions Of A Life won the band a Mercury Prize, one of the highest honors a UK band can receive. Fans are equally excited, coming to Twitter in droves to give the band their highest praise.
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For fans of Wolf Alice who just can’t get enough, the release of Blue Weekend has been a euphoria. In addition to the album drop, the group also released a series of promotional bundles including signed cassette tapes and vinyls. The band is also selling signed merch through their website. To further promote the release, the band held a watch party, partnered with Bleach London to release a blue hair dye, and is scheduled to host an AMA on June 7 via Reddit.
Doing a @reddit AMA Monday 6PM BST on r/indieheads, JOIN US xx pic.twitter.com/D5FYeRXB06
— Wolf Alice (@wolfalicemusic) June 4, 2021
The band also dropped a music video the same day as the Blue Weekend release. “How Can I Make It OK?” is directed by Jordan Hemingway, whose characteristic vintage art direction takes the stage in an underground club with a backdrop of vintage CRT televisions. A nervous performer begins singing with Rowsell’s voice superimposed, trying to overcome his reluctance and internal struggles. As the unnamed singer finally finds his confidence and breaks out of his shell, a member of the audience stares in awe and adoration. Who can’t relate?
As the singer continues to be more comfortable on stage, the supportive patron becomes more and more elated by his performance. The two finally embrace each other at the end, where the singer looks astonished at the level of support he received. The concert-goer, meanwhile, looks pleased and content, like a friend who finally got to see them achieve their dreams. Due to the band’s depth of artistic reach and the lyrical content of the song, it’s hard not to feel like it isn’t conceptual.
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You can watch the video for “How Can I Make It OK?” below.
Proving the versatility of their artistic scope, Wolf Alice also announced a film accompaniment to Blue Weekend. “Last winter we began making a visual feast for your eyes,” the band said on Twitter. “Set on a night out we wanted to bring the music of Blue Weekend to life with this beautiful film directed by Jordan Hemingway. Pints and ciggies have literally never looked this good lol.”
Last winter we began making a visual feast for your eyes. Set on a night out we wanted to bring the music of Blue Weekend to life with this beautiful film directed by Jordan Hemingway. Pints and ciggies have literally never looked this good lol. pic.twitter.com/Wbun48twKs
— Wolf Alice (@wolfalicemusic) June 3, 2021
It isn’t the first time the band has released a film accompaniment to one of their releases. Their 2015 album My Love is Cool featured filmmaker Michael Winterbottom, who followed the band on tour and created a fictionalized docudrama narrative from the viewpoint of a new crew member. You can see the trailer here.
In addition to the new album, the over-achieving indie gods have scheduled a tour in the United States. You can find the dates below.
Wolf Alice U.S. Tour Dates:
10/25 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Market
10/26 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
10/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
10/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
10/30 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
11/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Grand at The Complex
11/03 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/04 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
11/08 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic
11/09 – Columbus, OH @ Newport
11/11 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
11/12 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/13 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/15 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage
11/16 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage
11/18 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
11/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
