On June 10, the Los Angeles-based rock band, The Wrecks, released their second studio album, “Sonder.” This comes two years after the release of their debut album, “Infinitely Ordinary,” but this recent release showcases the band taking a step up.
The Wrecks had put out three singles from this album prior to the June 10 release, “Lone Survivor,” “I Love This Part” and “Where Are You Now.” All three of these songs were good, but they all had a different sound from one another, leading people to wonder what the album would sound like as a whole.
The entire album continues with this inconsistent sound. Every song sounds unique, and it gives the album an eclectic, fun sound. The Wrecks use different genres and subgenres to help tell the story of the album. A lot of times when a band tries to use a lot of different styles it can end up being messy or chaotic, but The Wrecks pull it off well.
The album opens with the track “Sonder.” This song sounds a lot like what The Wrecks’ fans are used to. It’s a punchy alt-rock song. The song introduces the main theme of this album, the ending of a toxic relationship.
This theme is continued throughout the album, with most songs being about this breakup. The album was mostly written by the lead singer of The Wrecks, Nick Anderson. Anderson’s writing has always been good, but this album shows how Anderson took his writing to another level.
The flow of the album is also excellent. The album is a nice mix of faster, more energetic songs and slower, heavier songs. This makes listening to the album from top to bottom an enjoyable experience.
This album does have its flaws, however. The album itself is a little short, clocking in at around 36 minutes. While quality is more important than quantity, it would be nice to have one or two more tracks on the album.
The album also has a few tracks that don’t really fit in the theme of the album. While “Don’t Be Scared” and “No Place I’d Rather Be” are enjoyable songs, they don’t really fit the theme of “Sonder.” Every other track is about this breakup, but these two are, with “No Place I’d Rather Be” seeming like a love song, which is weird to put in the middle of a breakup album.
Overall, this is the best project The Wrecks have made to date. The unique sound sets it apart from the rest of their discography. The lyricism and production are absolutely incredible. The Wrecks have put together a no-skip album, that might be the album of the summer.
Mark Warren can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarkWarren1832