The alternative rock trio, Wallows, welcomed the summer of 2024 on May 24 with the release of their third studio album, Model. The band consists of vocalist-guitarists Braeden Lemasters and Dylan Minnette, as well as drummer-guitarist Cole Preston. The 12-track album is full of lively singles that are deserving of a spot on any beachside playlist.
Wallows first began releasing songs independently in 2017 before signing to an official record label in 2018. Wallows’ 2019 debut album Nothing Happens solidified the band’s position within the indie rock scene. Nothing Happens peaked at number 75 on the U.S. Billboard 200 list while the album’s lead single, “Are You Bored Yet”’s music video received an MTV Video Music Award nomination. Carving a path to the core of the indie rock scene, Wallows became successful early on in their musical career. Wallows boasts a signature sound of indie rock, bedroom pop, and surf punk, garnering them a mass of alternative and indie rock fans.
Wallows’ new album, Model, sounds similar to the band’s previously released music, failing to explore any new directions. Known for their grungy, slightly punk tone, Wallows has mastered the sound of classic indie rock, and while the band typically doesn’t shy away from becoming more experimental with the music genres they incorporate in their work, Model lacks the differentiation that fans crave. To the disappointment of devoted listeners, Wallows sticks to their well-traversed indie rock tone all throughout Model’s 36 minutes with only the occasional homage to other musical genres.
“Your Apartment,” released Feb. 16 as the album’s lead single, successfully gained attention with its upbeat tone and repetitive lyrics. “Your Apartment” proves to be the first of many sing-along songs off the album. “Time in the palm of your hand, we both let go together,” Minette sings. “But I promise, I get your sentiment / I wonder who’s been at your apartment,” Minnette and Lemasters sing throughout the song’s chorus. While the song is very catchy and has an optimistic indie rock tone, the lyrics house a sadder story, detailing the speaker’s failed attempt at starting up a relationship that ended in a breakup. Capturing the repetitiveness and sing-along quality of a The Strokes song, “Your Apartment” rightfully deserves the title of lead single.
The second track of the album, “Anytime, Always,” has an upbeat rhythm complimented by a purposefully repetitive chorus. The pop undertones on “Anytime, Always” add punch to the album’s repertoire, offering up a perfect beachside song to blast all summer long. While the song’s lyrics lack versatility, “Anytime Always”’s catchy quality and soft rock tone save the song from falling under the category of boy band instead of indie.
The last track of the album, “Only Ecstasy,” closes the album off with a generic indie style that sounds like a step backward for the band. While the band voiced wanting to step away from their angsty and brooding indie persona on Model, “Only Ecstasy” does not deliver, instead staying within the cage of Wallows’ already flushed-out persona. “Only Ecstasy” has a soft indie feel complimented by sweet lyrics, such as, “You ran to pick me flowers, then you brought them up to me / Engraved that day and smile, you gave in to my memory.” However, the song’s lyrics and instrumentals lose their luster due to “Only Ecstasy” sounding too similar to Wallow’s previous songs, blending into the genre of indie music too seamlessly.
Without branching out into different musical genres and more creative instrumentals, Wallows’ newest album, Model, misses the mark. With only a few standalone tracks that attempt to save the album, its worn-out tone has a low impact compared to their previously successful works. Listeners hope for the band to make a comeback with a more sonically adverse album next time. Wallows sticks to their comfort zone on Model, earning the album two and a half out of five feathers.
