What does it sound like?:
“The most hotly anticipated album of the year” may be an over used cliche, but in the case of Wet Leg after the singles “Chaise Longue”, “Wet Dream”, “Too Late Now”, “Oh No” and “Angelica” it’s a cliche that fits. And now it’s here – was it worth the anticipative waiting?
On first listen, the album comes over as a bit insubstantial – nice enough, but nowt to really rave about. And then listen again and more is revealed. The intricacy of the instrumentation, to joy and exuberance of the songs, the underlying enjoyment and fun, the way the voices work together, the wit and story in the lyrics (and a bit of near filth and some naughty words).
It’s one of those “play and lose yourself in the world for 40 minutes” jobs.
Seamlessly mixing 80s pop, high energy dance, post-punk, dreamy pop, and anything else that happens to fit, this is a collection of songs written and performed for fun – and the enjoyment is there for all to hear. What comes out is proof that “Chaise Longue” – which continues to dig itself into my head on each hearing and refuse to leave – was not a mere novelty but one piece of the jigsaw.
What does it all *mean*?
The aforementioned singles are present and correct, along with 7 more tracks which would be just as capable as single releases. “Being In Love”, “Loving You”, “Supermarket”, and closer “Too Late Now” being the pick for me at the moment, but the other tracks are not far behind.
It may not be monumental or shifting epochs but it effortlessly achieves what it sets out to do – entertain.
And it keeps doing it on repeated listening.
One can’t help but wonder if it might be a case of too much too soon with this accomplished debut – time will tell. But for now: “Was it worth the wait?” Abso-bloomin-lutely.
Goes well with…
Release Date:
Now
Might suit people who like…
Don’t go expecting hidden messages or thought experiments, just press play and enjoy Wet Leg’s world for a bit
Chaise Longue
Loving You
They make such enjoyable, fun music……fabulous
Great review. Illustrating, once again, that you need at least six listens to give an album a fair shake (geddit?).
You make me want to buy it. Almost. I’ll have a quick stream instead.
How can they be any more than a 5-minute wonder with a stupid name like Wet Leg, I ask myself?
Mind you, no recently-established bands seem to last very long. Part of the way the scene operates now.
Had a listen. Was not impressed by either of the above clips.
There’s a scene? How, more than ever, can there possibly be a “scene”?
Arctic Monkeys is a pretty silly name and they’re having a longish stay at the crease. As always, some of the bands emerging now will have equal longevity.
Personally I think the album is great fun and chaise longue was fabulously addictive. True they will most likely be forgotten in a couple of years but they have made their mark and not many can say that. In a way they remind me of the Ting Tings when they burst on the scene.
And the Ting Tings are still at it – new album on the way, apparently.
Their career has been rejuvenated by a celebrity-led TikTok meme using That’s Not My Name.
Here’s a fun explanation:
https://www.vulture.com/2022/02/tiktoks-thats-not-my-name-celebrity-explained.html
They’ve released four albums – who knew? – and a mini Ting.
First album is still a staple of every chazza throughout the land.
All bloody groups are still at it, except REM and Oasis, in spite of an often complete lack of public interest. There’s probably some iteration of the Henry Hall Orchestra playing somewhere tonight.
The album is good fun but The Ting Tings was the first thing that came to my mind as well
Is it a problem (to us) if they’re a five minute wonder? I think artists going and going is part of the rich tapestry of pop.
Come on Gramps, ‘‘twas ever thus, was it not?
Everything I’ve heard by them sounds good. I won’t be buying it, of course,
Edith. This in reply to Mike_H way back up there.
It’s not my kind of music they make, but I have no quarrel with those that like it.
I just can’t see why they considered “Wet Leg” to be a good name to ply their trade under.
@Mike_H it all ties in with Big D and buttered muffins. There is quite a bit of innuendo in their songs and why not? Seems to me like they are having fun.
After Chaise Longue I thought they were going to be a flying lizards style novelty act… But the albums really great.
Seems like the new guitar bands are remembering to write tunes again.
The Burning Wood site was raving about this yesterday, suggesting that influences were early Sparks, Talking Heads, Wire, & Kim Deal Pixies.
http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2022/04/wet-leg-making-it-official.html
In the comments, someone pointed out that there’s a Tiny Desk concert
No idea if they’ll still be with us in 10 years time or not, but they have been around in one way or another for a while. Here’s Rhian from 2013 (as Rhain). She’s certainly got a set of pipes on her-
And here’s my favourite Isle of Wight band ‘Plastic Mermaids’ with a couple of Wet Legs on backing vocals
I hate to be ‘that guy’ but I can only see Rhian on BVs, not Hester.
I assumed that she was the one on the left. They are both credited with backing vocals on the PMs album, hence I made that assumption- All the blonde haired, female Indie rockers look the same (for shame).
Chaise Longue was my most listened to song on Spotify last year. We’re nearly a third of the way through 2022 and it still sounds fresh to me.
The album is much stronger than I expected. Loving You is my favourite track at the moment – shows another side to the band.
I first discovered Wet Leg when i heard their NPR Tiny Desk session. They won me over on the spot. I can’ resist a band who are clearly having a whale of a time.
Bob Boilen of NPR’s All Songs Considered is a big fan and so are his colleagues . Three of them discussed the band and produced a Spotify playlist, charting their influences
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/09/1091730938/lets-talk-about-wet-leg
Here’s that playlist. Whether you a Leggy Lover,or not, you will enjoy it.
Fine looking playlist – and I’m hearing bits of all of that lot in the album
Might suit people who like…
Stuff on this playlist
They’re from where I’m living (Isle of Wight) so the local media here are pretty bowled over on how popular they’ve become in such short a time..
overrated shit in my opinion
not really
great review Mr Digit!
Dissenting opinion: that music is fucking awful.
I listened to the album yesterday as I went about my business, and the forced tweeness and kookiness of it was nauseating. The singing sounds like Joanna Newsom with a tracheotomy and the songs are so slight and derivative that I’m not sure why they bothered naming them. It makes Daphne and Celeste sound like Rachmanininoff.
I’m delighted that they are having a wonderful time etc, and I wish them further success but I think this will be the briefest flash in the pan. File under “Music for twats who like to loudly sing along and over-enunciate at gigs to let everyone know that they know the lyrics.”
Yebbut @podicle, what do you think of it?
One of them was on BBC R4’s Woman’s Hour yesterday. Rock and Roll, IoW style.
I’ve been listening to the album since reading this review. I can’t get enough of it – tunes, hooks, a hint of melancholy, and they don’t seem to take themselves too seriously, That’s all my pop boxes ticked tbh. And their videos are a hoot too.