Indie rock darlings The Wombats are back again with their newest album, Oh! The Ocean, and if you are not already a fan of the band, this album will definitely turn you into one. Their latest record is easily some of the best work of their career.
The Wombats certainly know how to create explosively electric sing-along choruses. It is not very often that you come across a record with so many unforgettable choruses. Generally, with indie rock, I find there are really only one or two choruses from a record that are absolute gems, and the rest, unfortunately, fall flat. This is not the case at all for Oh! The Ocean. ‘Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come’ sets the bar high for the choruses on the record. It is whimsical, lighthearted, and highly entertaining. Matthew Murphy’s falsetto is stunning. Tord Øverland Knudsen’s bass work is incredibly groovy and full of flavor. The entire song rocks, but the chorus, especially, is just so damn amazing. The endlessly charming ‘Can’t Say No’ is an early frontrunner for best chorus of the year. It will immediately take you back to indie rock’s golden era (late 2000s to early 2010s). Murphy’s transcendent vocals, Dan Haggis’ sublime drumming, and the feel-good aura of the chorus make it excellent ear candy. Another impressive chorus is the one from ‘Blood On The Hospital Floor.’ The lively energy, fast, punky guitar riffs, and kinetically upbeat chorus make it an anthemic crowd-pleaser. Lastly, ‘Gut Punch’ is yet another infectiously catchy tune that is sure to raise the roof at live shows.
The Wombats are not afraid to challenge themselves and switch things up on this album. For example, ‘Kate Moss’ takes things in a way different direction than the rest of the record as it sees them experimenting with some electronic influences. It features some strangely fascinating and hypnotic instrumentation that is bound to get stuck in your head. Similarly, like many other songs from Oh! The Ocean, the chorus of ‘Kate Moss’ is exceptional. Despite the change in sound, the song still fits cohesively with the rest of the album and does not feel out of place. Alternatively, ‘Swerve (101)’ sees them going in a darker and heavier area instrumentally. The song opens with a somewhat menacing and sinister guitar line. Murphy’s vocal delivery is slightly mysterious. Once the drums start thumping in it gets even more atmospheric and eerie. All of these things build up to a triumphantly glorious chorus.
Oh! The Ocean has a perfect balance of heart and humour. The beautifully uplifting ‘My Head Is Not My Friend’ tackles depression and mental health in a very vulnerable and honest way. On the other hand, ‘Can’t Say No’ has several chaotically unhinged lines that showcase the band’s humorous wit, most notably “Steal some cash from your mother’s purse / And sign her up for a Ponzi scheme,” which is guaranteed to make the listener chuckle or at least smile.
Other highlights include the entertaining funky disco-like vibes of ‘I Love America And She Hates Me’ and the magnetic alternative rocker ‘The World’s Not Out To Get Me, I Am,’ which features top-notch guitar solos and juicy guitar riffs.
Overall, Oh! The Ocean is one of the best albums of the year so far. Only Phonetics On And On from Horsegirl has it beat for my favorite album thus far.
