Review by Dom Vigil
It would be a miracle if you made it this far into 2018 without hearing about Pale Waves. With their own stunningly unique brand of shimmering, emotional pop music, the soon to be iconic band have cultivated a cult following and incredibly devoted fanbase, and all before the release of their debut full-length, My Mind Makes Noises. With this highly anticipated album, Pale Waves successfully built off of the retro-pop singles they’ve released so far (see “There’s A Honey,” “Television Romance” and “Noises”) to prove that they’re a force to be reckoned with and a band that is set to change pop music as we know it.
The fact of the matter is, there’s no other band like Pale Waves right now. Compared to untouchable modern pop icons, frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie is tangable and relatable to her fanbase, no matter their age. Throughout the entirety of My Mind Makes Noises, she bears her soul in a way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived, but instead is incredibly vulnerable and genuine. Songs like the introspective “Noises” and the emotional “Came In Close” are sure to resonate with younger fans, while “Drive” will hit home with just about anyone who has struggled to find themselves.
Vocally, Baron-Gracie delivers and then some on this release as well, her voice easily molding to the different sounds that the band experiments with, from the pounding dance track, “Red” to the heartbreaking “She” or even the intimate acoustic closer, “Karl.” And sonically, My Mind Makes Noises hits every single mark. Although many of the band’s singles tend to have a similar vibe, the songs that really shine are definitely the deeper cuts. For instance, the bass work in “Came In Close,” is spectacular, and “Drive” truly feels like an 80’s rock anthem, which contrasts beautifully with the following ballad, “When Did I Lose It All.”
Pale Waves are just the band that pop music needs right now, and My Mind Makes Noises is sure to withstand the test of time. It’s perfectly balanced – retro, but feels modern enough to be accessible to anyone. It’s real, raw and vulnerable, but it’s also catchy as hell. Records like My Mind Makes Noises and bands like Pale Waves are generational – they’re something that only come once every ten or twenty years and completely reshape a genre of music. Pale Waves are the kind of band that people will be raving about years from now, even after they’re long gone.
LISTEN TO: “Came In Close” “Drive” and “Noises”
STAY CONNECTED WITH PALE WAVES: https://www.facebook.com/palewaves/