ALBUM REVIEW: Wallows – ‘Tell Me That It’s Over’
Review by: Hollie Duffy
Rating: 4/5
After having the honour of attending Wallows’ ‘Tell Me That It’s Over’ listening party on release night and experiencing the excitement of fans firsthand, I can say this project is receiving a well-deserved response. After their 2020 EP release ‘Remote’ (aptly named due to recording the entire EP isolated from each other) with a re-release of a deluxe version in 2021, the trio are back with their second album ‘Tell Me It’s Over.’ The band have explained that the albums premise mostly revolves around relationships, due to their personal lives, and experiencing love in your mid-20s.
Opening with the track ‘Hard to Believe’ we’re transported into worlds of strings, synths and lyrics about heartbreak. Throughout this song, lyrics and themes appear which are also prevalent in other tracks released by the band, with references to time in ‘At the End of the Day’ and friendship in ‘I’m Full’ which appears on their debut album ‘Nothing Happens.’
Similarly to their previous releases, Wallows keep to a very electronic and alternative sound, constantly integrating synths (being a stable in their releases). The band have a consistent and recognisable sound to them, which will benefit them massively as they grow throughout their career.
After the first three tracks being led by Dylan Minnette’s vocals, track 3, the 3rd lead single for the album, ‘At the End of the Day’ brings Braeden Lemasters’ talent to the forefront. Minnette explains to Coup De Main that, Lemasters walks us through the feeling of being invested in a relationship and wanting to be happy with this person yet fearing it is doomed.
Track 6, ‘Permanent Price’ brings us an angelic love song partnered with beautifully melodic backing vocals provided by head of ‘The Regrettes’ Lydia Night. Both singers describe the ‘permanent price’ of falling for somebody, opening with an ethereal entry this song is fighting for its top spot on my ranking.
To end the album, track 9 and 10 both take on a more mellow feel, with themes of responsibility, heartache and insecurities, the band leave listeners with an emotional exit perfectly tying up this album.
Personally, this album has reinvented Wallows sonically in my mind and yet their original staple sound is still incredibly prevalent, whether it be Minnette’s instantly recognisable voice or their electronic instrumentals, this album has taken its place as my favourite project of theirs and has built the foundations for a groundbreaking tour later on in the year.
