Pale Waves has been rocking the worlds of Indie, alternative, pop and rock since 2010, and they have returned with their fifth album Unwanted.
The British band formed when lead singer and guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie met drummer Ciara Doran, and the rest was history. Unwanted utilizes a sound mixture of base, drums, and edgy vocals to receive excitement and reciprocation from listeners.
Lies
“Lies” is the perfect breakup ballad. The song’s edgy-punk tune of choppy guitar and drums sets the tone for a vengeful, yet uplifting anthem. It has all of the uplifting qualities to turn a sad situation into a revival.
“You called it love / But it never had that feeling / Ripped out my heart and left it bleeding”
Unwanted
“Unwanted” spreads an important message of unapologetically being yourself despite other’s opinions. The classic rock guitar notes bring both a sentimental and nostalgic feel to the song, targeting an impressionable audience who may feel unwanted at times.
The Hard Way
“The Hard Way” is a slower set song which strays away from Pale Waves’ hard rock vibe. Baron-Gracie showcases her impressive vocal sphere while singing about learning “the hard way” that people don’t always change. The mesmerizing guitar solo resinates the feelings of moving on from this situation.
“That you were okay / But I learnt the hard way / Thought it wasn’t my place / But I learnt the hard way”
Jealousy
“Jealousy” is about unapologetic obsession and greed. The rock song’s intense base and percussion beats gives listeners that feel of emotional greed and gluttony. Jealousy is a quality in which some cannot help, the band explains.
“People like to shame me / You think that I care at all?”
Alone
Pale Waves is okay with being alone, and there is nothing wrong with that. “Alone” tells everyone who cannot handle rejection to shamelessly ‘get a grip.’ The intense base creates an atmosphere of mixed emotions we feel when a relationship turns sour.
Clean
“Clean” uses a percussion-heavy beat to create more silence within its chorus. This ultimately makes the song sound cleaner and transitions more smooth. “Clean” describes the clean slate of beginning a new relationship.
Without You
“Without You” is a reminder of the inevitable separation we all face within our lives. The emotional ballad tells just how much people can affect each other’s worlds. “Without You” contains a mellow base chorus, which stimulates feelings of nostalgia towards those loved and lost.
Only Problem
“Only Problem” comes in both powerful and zealous with undeniably penetrable base, which holds prominence throughout the entire song. The power in these instrumentals helps listeners relate to the anguish and anger felt toward someone who brings destruction to one’s life.
“Now I guess I have to do this on my own / Baby it’s time to let you go”
You’re So Vain
“You’re So Vain” is a memoir to all the negative experiences faced in encounters with the pretentious. The consistent clapping ambiance within the instrumentals creates a form of unity and boldness, as if many people are coming together to call out the vain people in their lives.
“When you open up your narcissistic mouth / All you do is let me down”
Reasons To Live
“Reasons To Live” is about finding your people. Pale Waves may be referring to when they found each other. A truly authentic music video of the band of friends being themselves shows just how important friends are. The electrifying guitar performance frames a fun and exciting atmosphere of genuine friendship.
“You picked me up when I was down on the floor / You showed me how to love myself a little more”
Numb
The repetitive nature of “Numb’s” slow and steady base makes listeners feel the same as we do when we feel numb to the world. Baron-Gracie emotionally sings about the difficult days of drowning within the cycle of life. “Numb” brings both awareness and relatability to these mentally draining days.
Act My Age
“Act My Age” discusses a world falling apart due to the inevitable changes that come with age. The transition of guitar tunes and speed throughout the song tells a story of the interpersonal dilemma of growing up and growing cohesively.
“I can feel those easy days slip away”
So Sick (Of Missing You)
The thirteenth and final track of Pale Waves’ Unwanted is “So Sick (Of Missing You)”. The lighthearted lyrics are inspired by the relationship of fictional television characters, mirroring the picture-perfect small-screen relationship. The alternating calm and tumultuous instrumentals create a story of a young, love-struck couple in turmoil.
Pale Waves has the candidness that creates a safe space for fans of all ages, saying, “We don’t need to fit a perfect mold, we don’t need to apologize for being ourselves, we don’t care to be wanted and we won’t change for anyone. This acceptance is what connects us.”
We really empathized with the tracks on Unwanted and can’t wait to experience more of Pale Waves’ outreaching music in the future.
Final Ranking: 9/10
Be sure to listen to Unwanted by Pale Waves here.
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