If the release timing of ‘Bleeds’ appears somewhat serendipitous to outside observers (with a band named Wednesday launching an album while the Netflix series of the same name is in the spotlight), the process of its creation seems to tell a different story. Frontwoman Karly Hartzman’s openly personal writing style reveals that much of this sixth album from the North Carolina group was penned prior to her separation from guitarist MJ Lenderman – who was a full member then, but is no longer part of the touring lineup. This fact is of little consequence, as an unsettling gloom permeates much of the album, making it hard to ignore connections to the real-life timeline of its creators. Similarly, the tension produced by shifting styles creates an evident contrast each time, evident in tracks like the quirky, gentle country tune ‘Phish Pepsi’ (which features the unforgettable line “We watched a Phish concert and Human Centipede / Two things I now wish I’d never seen”) that transitions into the indie-sounding ‘Candy Breath’, where almost comedic timing precedes the statement “everyone’s divorced.” While there isn't a complete push and pull between the two, with both tracks standing out on their own, there is a noticeable shift in tone that leaves the album feeling precarious – a sense that, with hindsight, indicates a band that shares a similar unease. This slight awkwardness as Wednesday's varying styles vie for focus does not detract from the record; rather, the current context enhances the emotional weight that Karly has consistently shown she is skilled at expressing. For instance, the sense of ennui and traditional slacker rock storytelling in ‘Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)’ is striking; likewise, in ‘Pick Up That Knife’, her repeated line “they’ll meet you outside” grows more anguished as the song unfolds. The emotional depth is even more impactful when mirrored by the music itself: the foreboding organ in ‘Carolina Murder Suicide’ complements her gentle, sorrowful vocal delivery; and ‘Wasp’ – the album's truly chaotic moment – features somewhat muted guitars that converge into a cacophonous (and magnificent) emotional explosion.
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Uplifting folk-rock that centers around connection.
Rich in the emotional weight that they have already shown a talent for expressing.