Vertigo (Wand album)

Last updated

Vertigo
Wand - Vertigo.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 26, 2024 (2024-07-26)
Length39:49
Label Drag City
Wand chronology
Spiders in the Rain
(2022)
Vertigo
(2024)

Vertigo is a 2024 studio album by American psychedelic rock band Wand, released by Drag City.

Contents

Background

On May 7, 2024, Wand announced the release of their new studio album, along with the first single "Smile". [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Under the Radar 8.5/10 [4]

Vertigo was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 84 based on five reviews. [2]

Bill Pearis of BrooklynVegan called the music on Vertigo unlike the band's previous releases, being their "most expansive, subtle and varied record yet and a bit of a swerve from 2019's flashy knockout Laughing Matter". [5] A review of lead single "Smile" called this album their most ambitious yet and "a noir-tinged record looming with tension, theatrical elevation, and lush orchestration". [6] Editors at Stereogum chose this for Album of the Week, with critic Chris DeVille, writing that this release "leans into the ensemble element by building its songs out of the best parts of jam sessions", resulting in "a set of patient yet explosive guitar-powered epics that reaffirm Wand's stature as one of underground rock's hidden treasures". [7]

Track listing

  1. "Hangman" – 5:34
  2. "Curtain Call" – 3:29
  3. "Mistletoe" – 5:08
  4. "JJ" – 4:06
  5. "Smile" – 6:29
  6. "Lifeboat" – 4:30
  7. "High Time" – 7:02
  8. "Seaweed Head" – 3:31

Personnel

Wand

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Vertigo
Chart (2024)Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [8] 91
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [9] 50

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Harmlessness</i> 2015 studio album by The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die

Harmlessness is the second studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. It was announced on August 4, 2015, and was released on September 25. The title of the album is a play on the name of the band's first EP, Formlessness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wand (band)</span> American psychedelic rock band

Wand is an American psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 2013. The band consists of Cory Hanson, Robert Cody (guitar), Evan Backer (bass) and Evan Burrows (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Thief</span> American indie folk band

Big Thief is an American indie folk band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 2015. The band consists of Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek and James Krivchenia (drums). Between 2015 and 2024, the band also included longtime bass guitarist, Max Oleartchik.

<i>Weather</i> (Tycho album) 2019 studio album by Tycho

Weather is the fifth studio album by ambient music project Tycho, released on July 12, 2019. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Easy" and "Pink & Blue", the latter of which was released along with the album announcement on May 14, 2019.

<i>Dead Meat</i> 2023 studio album by The Tubs

Dead Meat is the debut studio album by British indie rock and punk rock band the Tubs, release by Trouble in Mind on 27 January 13, 2023. The album was supported by a tour of British record stores by the band.

<i>Vertigo Days</i> 2021 studio album by The Notwist

Vertigo Days is the ninth studio album by German electronic band The Notwist. It was released on 29 January 2021 by Morr Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smile (band)</span> English rock band

The Smile are an English rock band comprising the Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with Tom Skinner (drums). Critics likened them to Radiohead, with more jazz, krautrock and progressive rock influences and a looser, wilder sound.

<i>Illusory Walls</i> 2021 studio album by the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die

Illusory Walls is the fourth studio album by American emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released October 8, 2021, by Epitaph Records. The name of the album, as well as the lead single "Invading the World of the Guilty as a Spirit of Vengeance", is inspired by the video game series Dark Souls. It is the band's first album since the departure of guitarist-vocalists Tyler Bussey and Dylan Balliett and the death of founding member Tom Diaz. The album was followed by a tour through the fall, including a concert at Brooklyn's Elsewhere Hall which was recorded for their live album Thank You for Being Here.

<i>Riderless Horse</i> (album) Album by Nina Nastasia

Riderless Horse is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Nina Nastasia. It was released by Temporary Residence Limited digitally and on CD on July 22, 2022, with the vinyl version following on November 4.

<i>A Foul Form</i> 2022 studio album by Osees

A Foul Form is the twenty-sixth studio album by American garage rock band Osees, released on August 12, 2022, by Castle Face Records. Continuing the return to the faster, more aggressive punk sound that the band explored on Protean Threat and a few oozes explained, the album was described by frontman John Dwyer as "an homage to the punk bands we grew up on."

<i>Welshpool Frillies</i> 2023 studio album by Guided by Voices

Welshpool Frillies is the 38th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. It was released on July 21, 2023.

<i>The Holey Bible</i> 2023 studio album by Florry

The Holey Bible is a 2023 studio album by American alternative country band Florry.

<i>Goodnight Summerland</i> 2023 studio album by Helena Deland

Goodnight Summerland is a 2023 studio album by Canadian art pop musician Helena Deland. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Nowhere to Go but Up</i> 2023 studio album by Guided by Voices

Nowhere to Go but Up is the thirty-ninth studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on November 24, 2023 through their own Guided by Voices, Inc. label. It has received positive reviews from critics and was preceded by the singles "For the Home" and "The Race Is On, the King Is Dead".

<i>Wall of Eyes</i> 2024 studio album by the Smile

Wall of Eyes is the second studio album by the English rock band the Smile, released on 26 January 2024 through XL Recordings. It was recorded in Oxford and Abbey Road Studios, London, with the producer Sam Petts-Davies.

<i>Blu Wav</i> 2024 studio album by Grandaddy

Blu Wav is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. Released on February 16, 2024, through Dangerbird Records, it marks their first album in nearly six years since Last Place, as well as their first since the death of bassist Kevin Garcia. The album's title is a portmanteau of the genres bluegrass and new wave. It has been preceded by the singles "Watercooler" and "Cabin in My Mind".

<i>Bite Down</i> 2024 studio album by Rosali

Bite Down is a 2024 studio album by American indie rock musician Rosali, released by Merge Records. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Strut of Kings</i> 2024 studio album by Guided by Voices

Strut of Kings is the fortieth studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on June 28, 2024, through Rockathon Records and their own Guided by Voices, Inc. label. It has received positive reviews from critics and was preceded by the singles "Serene King" and "Cavemen Running Naked".

<i>Funeral for Justice</i> 2024 studio album by Mdou Moctar

Funeral for Justice is a 2024 studio album by Nigerien desert blues band Mdou Moctar, released on Matador Records. It has received positive reviews from critics and was supported by a concert tour. The album explores cultural and political themes, including the impact of foreign interference in Nigerien affairs and the replacement of indigenous languages with colonial ones.

References

  1. Breihan, Tom (May 7, 2024). "Wand Announce New Album". Stereogum . Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Vertigo by Wand Review". Metacritic . Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  3. Thomas, Fred. "Vertigo - Wand". AllMusic . Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  4. Gardner, Daniel (July 25, 2024). "Wand: Vertigo (Drag City) - Review". Under the Radar . Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. Pearis, Bill (July 19, 2024). "Wand previewed new album 'Vertigo' at Bowery Ballroom". BrooklynVegan . Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  6. "Wand Returns with Ambitious New Album 'Vertigo' Out 7/26 – Shares Crushing New Single "Smile"". News. Glide Magazine . May 7, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  7. 1 2 DeVille, Chris (July 23, 2024). "Wand 'Vertigo' Album Review". Album Of The Week. Stereogum . Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  8. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  9. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 3, 2024.