About a year ago, I made an impulse buy, probably one of the top 3 most impulse-esque music purchases I've ever made. One of the main reasons was, as always, the album artwork. It just screamed, "I'm going to be a cool indie-alternative album with some attitude, buy me!" So I did, and I'm so glad I did! This album took me a couple listens to get used to, but after I got used to the Wakey!Wakey! sound, I listen to it often. The best way I can describe this set of songs is that it almost has some musical theater elements to it. Almost every song has a bit of a theatrical feel to it. The instrumental and melodic work of this album is where it excels, as well as in its vocal rhythms and hooks. This album may be an acquired taste, but trust me, if you give it a chance, it will become a staple in your musical diet.
1. "Almost Everything" - This song starts the album off in amazing fashion, with amazing instrumentals featuring strings. The song may as well have been named "Something to get Andrew to Buy this Album." Not only that, but the song is touching. It's about a guy telling his love that he understands that things are rough right now, "but it's gonna get better some day." A great melodic song to start off this album, and probably my favorite of the set of songs.
2. "The Oh Song" - This song is exactly what it sounds. It starts with an extended "Ohhhhh" chant, which lathers, rinses, and repeats are various points throughout the song. The song has other lyrics though, don't worry, and though this song won't win any lyric awards, it's such a fun song to listen to that it doesn't matter. Violin makes another strong appearance in a wonderful little interlude in the middle of the song that builds into another chorus.
3. "Twenty Two" - I thought the whole concept of this song was great and original. It seemed to me that it was about a girl who got in over her head in a new environment, and the narrator of the song is telling her to leave while she's still got some money left. I also loved the chant-heavy chorus of this song, and the instrumentation and melody makes the song really catchy. With whistling sprinkled in at several points in the song, you can imaging the song playing in the girl's head as she packed, a last reminder of the guy who gave her some good advice. Overall, the song left me with the impression of "Life's gonna move on, no matter what happens."
4. "Square Peg Round Hole" - One of my favorites on the album, for a couple reasons. First, piano, strings, and vocals are the stars in this theatrical and infinitely catchy song. The chorus is essentially "Square peg in a round ho-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh......." It's just so fun to listen to that you find yourself bouncing along with the melody. Simple, enjoyable music is one of the things that Wakey!Wakey! does best, and this song is a prime example.
5. "Dance So Good" - This song slows it down a bit, and it's another touching song. The narrator is trying to cheer up the girl in the song. He doesn't understand why she's so sad, when she's so beautiful. He wants her to cheer up and forget her cares for a while on the dance floor: "So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good." It's another wonderful song about taking life as it comes and making the best of it if life hands you lemons. A sweet song that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.
6. "1876 - The Brooklyn Theater Fire" - Though I'm not a huge fan of the lyrics of this song (there doesn't seem to be a strong theme), the instrumentation of the verses and chorus, as well as the vocal harmonies in the chorus, make this song yet another enjoyable listen. For such a good melody, though, I wish the lyrics were a bit tighter. Not that that's going to stop me from conducting along with the chorus.
7. "Feral Love" - This would have to be my least favorite song on the album. It's got a nice groove to it, and there's a great instrumental section around three-fourths of the way through it, but the song doesn't progress much other than that. It's well executed, but it has a slight "filler" feeling to it.
8. "Got It All Wrong" - This is a great song, with great piano melodies with string accompaniment and still more well-written lyrics. From what I can interpret, the narrator is thinking about how he and his ex-girlfriend broke up when there was really nothing left to do to save the relationship, though they tried. Still, he thinks they may have been able to more, and asks continuously, "What if we got it all wrong?" Definitely a thought that has run through most of our heads at some point or another. The song finishes off beautifully with strings (what can I say, I'm a sucker for strings).
9. "Light Outside" - Ahh piano and strings, you've done it again. This is another of my favorite songs on the album. The instrumentation of this entire song is just plain beautiful. Electric guitars add in every once in a while for melodic bonus points. The lyrics are also well written and beautifully delivered. Yet another strong song.
10. "Car Crash" - I really thought this was a beautiful song, though it doesn't necessarily mesh with the feel of the album, in that this song is about a specific event - in this case, a car crash. The narrator is singing about how he's stuck in a burning car, "but at least you [his love] were thrown clear. When the strings, pianos, and brass enter for an instrumental lead in to the final series of vocals, it is such a beautiful musical sequence that it gives me shivers every single time. Another of my favorite songs on the album.
11. "Take It Like a Man" - This is a very two sided song. On one side is a string intro that sounds like a Russian polka, and on the other is a beautiful string and piano-driven chorus that gets me swaying to it without fail. And then, just when you get comfortable, the Russian polka violin re-enters. Still, it's an original and fun song, if nothing else. It ends with another Russian polka section after an amazing, majestic chorus that is introduced by... wait for it... a great instrumental build.
My recommendation for after you hear this album for the first time: listen to it again. The songs go by fast, and listening to the album a couple times in a row really helps you pick up the little nuances that make this set of songs so enjoyable. This music is great for walking somewhere at a fairly quick clip. For some reason, it just motivates you to walk faster. It tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel like you're ready to take on anything.
Here's a link to their Myspace!
http://www.myspace.com/wakeywakey
Until next time, enjoy :)
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