Oh, how I do love bands that bend genres… Not normally an indie person, per se, I’m more of an ‘alt’ rocker (yes, there’s a difference). But if you add a little psychedelic reverb, echoes… a mix of acoustic and electric, you’ve got me hooked. And that’s exactly where I find myself with Wilderado‘s latest LP — simply smitten. Titled Talker, the new 12-track undertaking of follows the band’s self-titled, debut album that landed him and his bandmates on the likes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! among other notable outlets.
The first hint of a sophomore release was last fall with the single “In Between”; one year later, the rest is revealed.
Talker, released September 20th via Bright Antenna Records, was recorded in Norman, Oklahoma — you can’t get more authentic folk rock than that. Produced by Chad Copelin (whose previous work includes Sufjan Stevens, SYML, etc.) and James McAlister (who’s brought to life pieces from Gracie Abrams, The National, etc.), Talker speaks loudly for the introverted underdog, spelling out (in soft-spoken, overlaid vocal tracks, that is) how it feels to never know quite what to say in social circumstances, in a romantic or (really) any given relationship at any time, or even to yourself inside your own head.
So, let’s converse…
Beginning with “Talker”, lead singer Max Rainer stresses he just isn’t one. Oh, but he gets by with weed — smoking his “way to a better man”. Insecure, introverted, everything is second-guessed without taking the edge off: “I often wonder what I meant and what I do… So I’m not sure what I would have to say to you.” Luckily, you can lie down and waste the day away with Rainer in joint silence — literally.
The LP goes on to “Bad Luck”, which — this time — Rainer claims he has in excess. No matter his intention, a night out always goes awry. Unassertiveness isn’t a character flaw, but it can often be a curse. As guitar and bass weave melody behind Rainer’s voice, the drums keep a reassuring, steady beat. No matter what happens when you put yourself out there, you can always walk away, “hide away and get by”.
The next track “Simple” almost has a Mazzy Star feel, another example of Wilderado’s inventiveness within the indie realm. Rainer wants a simple life: to spend time, spend money on somebody worthy while looking for the road to paradise. “Higher Than Most” follows, a more upbeat song on — you guessed it — how weed plays into self-confidence in a world full of unknowns. The album goes on to detail the “motley sin” of chasing a career in music, the feeling of always being “In Between” the present moment, and how a relationship ultimately ends with “Longstanding Misunderstanding”, dragged out beyond its shelf life. Repetitive, melancholic proclamations of being “stuck”, “feeling bad”, and “waiting” on someone or something to happen clash against easygoing instrumentals, as if the band is audibly telling the listener:
“If this is the way you fit into the world, make the most of it”.
With the album’s release, now is your chance to hear it live! Wilderado is on the road through the end of the month, culminating in a finale show on October 26th in Tulsa, OK. Also, the band has pressed a special black and milk chocolate 180-gram vinyl edition of the album, if you want to accentuate Talker‘s rustic sounds via turntable. For more information or to get your own physical copy, visit their website or the links below.
Track listing:
- Talker
- Bad Luck
- Simple
- Higher Than Most
- Coming To Town
- In Between
- Longstanding Misunderstanding
- Sometimes
- Tomorrow
- Themselves
- Waiting On You
- What Were You Waiting For
Wilderado – “Higher Than Most”
Stream ‘Talker’ on Spotify:
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Disclaimer: All views presented in this album review are those of the reviewer and not necessarily those of Top Shelf Music.
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