Indie-trio, Wallows, have recently put out their sophomore album Tell Me That It’s Over and I found it to be a very fun record. Right off the bat, I could tell that the band was going in a very new direction once they began to release their singles before putting out the album, and it made me a bit skeptical because of how different their sound was compared to their previous works. Nevertheless, I was very intrigued.
Having been a huge Wallows fan since they started, TMTIO caught me quite off guard. This album is definitely much more indie-pop than rock, but it started to slowly grow on me the more I listened to it a little deeper. Once I was able to memorize the lyrics and sing along to some of the songs, I was able to connect to the sound more and I was like “Okay, I can dig this.”
“Hard to Believe” was a very climatic song to begin the album and I think this song perfectly set up for what was to come on the rest of the record. The bridge on this song reeled me in with Dylan singing “Got you checking in again//I’ve got a friend I’ve been talkin’ to.” As a whole, it’s a very synth-dominated record that sounds very bright and pop-y, and there’s lots of chaotic instrumentation going on (even a harmonica at one point…yup). It wasn’t until hearing “Missing Out,” sung by Braeden, where I recognized that Wallows’ indie-rock sound. There’s lots of heavy guitar in this track which was refreshing from the synths.
This album is a rollercoaster of emotions. Their lyrics tackle the ups and downs of relationships and breakups, including insecurities and heartbreak. This theme lightens up with their very sweet, soft love song “Permanent Price” in which Dylan Minnette harmonizes with his current girlfriend, Lydia Night, from The Regrettes. The two’s voices match perfectly and I think it was very wholesome to highlight the process of falling for someone and being able to get over the fear of being vulnerable with one another.
My two favorite songs on the album were “Especially You” and “Hurts Me.” I absolutely loved the 80s sounding synths in “Hurts Me” with Dylan’s fast backing vocals during Braeden’s chorus singing. This breakup song is very upbeat and it made me picture that retro 80s mall aesthetic. The lyrics and rhythm on “Especially You” were my favorite with Dylan singing “Can’t get you off my mind// Life’s like a waste of time.” These two tracks were the catchiest for me and I felt myself dancing to them! Definitely recommend listening to these.
The last track “Guitar Romantic Search Adventure” made me a bit nostalgic of “Do Not Wait” which is the last track to their previous album, Nothing Happens, where the two are much similar in their dramatic exit and wrapping up of an album. It’s slow, dreamy, and is a very satisfying finish to the album with the last line “I hope you don’t tell me that it’s over” that offers a contrast to the entire song/album in which, now, the singer doesn’t want this relationship to ever end as he is slowly overcoming his fears, doubts, and insecurities and wants it to last.
There were really only a couple of songs which I didn’t really get into, but I think this album as a whole is very cohesive and it definitely shows how the band has a much more refined and mature sound to their music. It’s a very enjoyable, sentimental album and I can definitely hear this album being played a whole lot during the summer.