Wallows Get Candid About Love and Relationships on "Model"
Written by Faith Logue
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
Indie rock band Wallows have steadily increased their presence in the scene since the release of their first single “Pleaser,” amassing over one billion streams through their whole discography. With recognizable hits like “Are You Bored Yet?,” “Remember When,” “OK,” and “Scrawny,” Wallows have perfected their sound, bringing in irresistible melodies, an array of voices, and dynamic instrumentation. Consisting of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston, each member adds unique layers to their sound, combining to be one of the most talented indie acts.
Their new album Model is an eclectic mix of their old sounds, combined with the typical indie aesthetic and instruments. Each track looks at the feelings of love, heartbreak, admiration, and relationships, with each member taking their turn singing. Although most tracks contain the same instruments and vibes, Wallows changes the tune, picks up speed, and slows things down, showing that you will never know what you will get from them.
“Your Apartment,” the lead single from the record, is a groovy and simple track that sings about the anxiety that comes with heartbreak, wondering if the other person has moved on. Featuring Minnette’s signature and unique vocals, the track speeds up through the chorus as he sings, “Who said I don't understand or that I probably won't remember/Time in the palm of your hand, we both let go together/But I promise, I get your sentiment/I wonder who's been at your apartment.” Although thinking about where their old love is, he makes a point to say in verse two that it isn’t right for them to talk after the breakup, bringing the listener through his healing journey. “Your Apartment” is a strong start to the record and one of my favorites because it reminds me of who Wallows are at their core while also expanding greatly on their past.
The next track “Anytime, Always” sounds similar to “Your Apartment” with its prominent backing guitar and changes the mood with Minnette trying to keep in contact with his ex by inviting them to call him ‘anytime, always.’ About halfway through the track, they added some funky instrumentation to make it stand out, as it started to sound like a pretty simple indie track with no layers. A hopeless cry for help, the track does not stand out to me but fits into the theme of love and its effects.
The singles are truly some of the best tracks from the album, including the next one “Calling After Me.” The song talks about a budding romance and the toxic secrecy that surrounds it. The guitar in the background is reminiscent of a Mac DeMarco track: simple but intricate with a groovy tone that significantly adds to it, making you want to jump and dance along. Minnette wants their partner to profess their feelings so he can stop seeking out other people and knows he has to coax them to fully commit, something common amongst young people in the dating scene who tend to fall into “situationships” versus a romantic relationship.
My favorite of the album is “Bad Dream,” which features Braeden Lemasters on vocals and a shift in the feel-good tone heard thus far on Model. Lemasters’ vocals always add a dreamlike trance to every track he is featured on, only elevating in this one. As someone who likes the mellow dream pop genre, I gravitated towards this song immediately, as it kept a hold of me during those glorious three minutes. Speaking about trying to help out a struggling partner who needs help but won’t take it, he perfectly encapsulates the feelings of desperation and heartache that come from that, singing harmoniously, “Are you having a bad dream, baby?/Tossin' and turnin' in our sheets lately/Are you having a bad dream, baby?/I wanna wake you, but you won't let me.” The track brings in other instruments like synths to add to the dramatic feelings he sings about and keeps you alert as the track continues. To end it, Wallows brings several instruments together to cement these feelings, with the piano, drums, and synths returning as he sings “Here we go again.”
The new track, “A Warning,” sounds like something at the end of a teen heartthrob movie. As Minnette reflects on his old relationship, he wonders if they lied to him and if he really mattered to them: “Did you cross your fingers when you said forever?/Am I just a name to flip through in your story?” Something Wallows does that makes their tracks rememberable is bringing each member together to harmonize and build off the other, as they do in the chorus of this track when they sing “You could've given me a warning/'Cause you had me holding out for nothin'/Oh, you could've given me a warning/If you knew that all your walls would cave in.” Lemasters takes over again for the next half of the track, wishing his ex treated him differently. Although sad, “A Warning” is classic and true to Wallows, with each member bringing his best.
Photo courtesy of Aidan Zamiri
Although he is the drummer, Cole Preston occasionally will hop on a track to mix things up, which he hasn’t done since “Quarterback” on Remote (Deluxe). A surprise to many including me, his vocals shine through on “I Wouldn’t Mind,” a slow but upbeat track that sings about love and romance that is up to several interpretations, including discussing the end of a relationship or how Preston wants to confess his love.
“You (Show Me Where My Days Went)” brings back the synths on this retro-sounding track and adds electric guitars. Minnette is missing his ex and wondering if he should look for other people or stay alone, reminiscing in the slowed-down chorus as he harmonizes with Lemasters, “It's you/I'm just saying it's you/You/You're what I've been chasing/Show me where my days went.” This track is one of the most unique on Model.
“Canada” is a mix of “CAN’T GET OVER YOU” by Joji and “Borderline Insane” by Matilda Mann in the craziest and coolest ways possible. Featuring one prominent verse, an elongated intro, and a catchy chorus, the track discusses themes of love, crushes, immense infatuation, and the thrill of falling for someone new. It doesn’t particularly stand out to me but is still a great track with unique and complex instrumentation.
“Don’t You Think It’s Strange” brings Lemasters back on the mic, adding the dream pop elements to the record. Although his partner or crush might think he doesn’t care, he is here to set the record straight on this upbeat and dynamic track, “Even if I looked the other way, love/Doesn’t mean I've got nothing to say, love/I’m just looking for a way to change up.” I could imagine seeing this song live and immediately jumping up and down to its irresistible guitar melodies, unique breakdowns, and solos.
The lively and fully loaded track “She’s an Actress” follows Minnette’s yearning for a specific girl and how he is willing to do whatever he can to get her. Lemasters comes back on “Going Under” and lays his entire self on the table. Singing about feeling insecure and afraid in a relationship, anybody who has ever felt those emotions can relate to this track, including myself. It makes me reminisce about terrible exes and how scared I was for it to end but felt freed when it was over. It reminds me of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter,” as Lemasters starts screaming into the mic with added reverb, much like Paul McCartney on that white album classic.
The last track “Only Ectasy” brings all these romantic feelings sung about throughout the whole record to a conclusion, as Minnette professes his true admiration for the person and how they are his ‘only ecstasy.’ With strong instrumentation and powerful lyrics like “Beyond your fallen tears, I can see generations in your face/I see the eyes of unborn daughters, I see you on a deathbed too,” this is a great closer to a strong and positive addition to Wallows’ discography.
Model is out now on all streaming services. Make sure to follow Wallows on @wallowsmusic, and catch them on tour this summer and fall.