Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend (2021)

When Glastonbury changed their format this year due to COVID, they broadcast several bands from different locations around the farm.  London’s Wolf Alice was the first band to feature and pulled off a great set of music that explored all areas of alternative rock from the last 30 years. Blue Weekend is the band’s third album and sees them on the edge of becoming Britain’s biggest band with a sold out UK tour planned for early 2022.

First track “The Beach” is a quiet hum of a song about friendship that builds into a roar.  “Smile” adds a healthy dose of fuzz guitar and menace that mixes Republica with Korn, a few songs later “Play The Hits” is a blast of punk blast noise.  Several songs see the band play with only minimal elements such as “Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)” and “No Hard Feelings” that are mostly guitar and the vocals of Ellie Roswell but somehow sound bigger than those spare parts.

Where the album really shines is on second track “Delicious Things” where Roswell asks “a girl like me/would you believe/I’m in Los Angeles”.  The inspiring track about living out your dreams in LA uses murmured Billie Eilish like vocals in the verses with a pop blast chorus that makes it one of the more memorable tracks of the year.  It’s no coincidence that the band uses Coldplay producer Markus Dravs to elevate several tracks that will be anthems in concert. Roswell does not have the strongest voice but the use of backing vocals, double tracks and electronic swirls more than compensate when an emotional lift is needed.  Touching on all different parts of alternative and pop, Wolf Alice have released a really great album.

8.5/10