The band released their debut extended play (EP), Girls, Boys and Marsupials in Japan through an independent record label in September 2006. While the subject ranges from trivial to an integral bone of contention, it is always interesting to see what songs an artist (and/or their label) release as singles. On their first two albums, the Wombats offered a blend of jumpy indie rock and lovable goof personas, but on their latest, Glitterbug, the sweet silliness has dissipated. Singles. The defining moment of the album comes when all the instruments drop out of "Give Me a Try" and Murphy proclaims, "We could be gigantic!" This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. Now Murph, Dan and Tord are back to stoke the flames with ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’. With Glitterbug, the Wombats have repositioned themselves as more pained, serious characters, longing to get away from the life of excessive parties and settle into a meaningful relationship. There's still life in these Liverpudlian marsupials. With their streaming numbers on a healthy incline and the venue sizes increasing with each tour, ‘Beautiful People…’ proves that there’s still life in these marsupials yet. I discovered this thanks to a YouTube channel called Spectrum Pulse claiming it as one of the best albums of 2015 and I agree. 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for The Wombats. When they’re bad they’re woeful. The world's defining voice in music and pop culture since 1952. At their worst, they degenerate into sleaze, delivering lines like "There‘s no greater sight than you in your underwear removing mine.". C+. But there’s more drama here than in previous works: Maybe Murphy is killing the director himself. ‘A Guide To Love…’ and its 2011 follow-up ‘This Modern Glitch’ revelled in the absurd, and come this album’s second track, ‘Lemon To A Knife Fight’, they’re at it again: “I’m unhinged and you’re undone / I’m not getting out of here alive / I brought a lemon to a knife fight,” frontman Matthew Murphy sings, adding a surreal twist to a toxic relationship. Their follow-up, 2011’s This Modern Glitch, followed suit. Glitterbug mostly seems like it was born of a frustration of not having made it in the States yet. on April 15, 2011, 7:58am. Mostly, though, this album is all about massive bangers. Here, they pull out all the stops to become gigantic, packing their songs with anthemic hooks and synth pulses. I am extremely excited for this album most of the singles that have been released so far, in particular Turn which is now one of my favourite Wombats songs. When they’re good, they’re OK. If you choose to use this review on your site please link back to this page. It’s ironic that a band whose singer once sang "if this is a rom-com, kill the director" would be putting forth something like this. The Wombats – This Modern Glitch. The Wombats review – all hail the quintessential middling indie band. The Wombats review, Alexandra Palace, London: Rip-roaring, energetic performance Band have made a triumphant return with their new album 'Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life… Liverpool threesome The Wombats have, since their debut album, 2007’s A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, championed both melodic British pop sensibility and whip-smart relationship-centred lyrics. Sure, this is an album full of the kind of shouty, lager-drunk pop that Kaiser Chiefs, the Cribs, and Arctic Monkeys have all already graced NME covers for making, but the Wombats … Ever since their critically 2007 debut album, the Liverpudlian trio have been a mainstay in the UK and European festival scene. The Wombats haven’t half made themselves easy targets, what with the not-terribly-funny funny songs of their 2007 debut album – a record so dated you might expect secondrate standups to … Perhaps because the Wombats as you knew them aren’t present, and they don’t always seem proud. I know there are more albums from these guys but, for now 'Glitterbug' is a great listen and I recommend it. You can hear the same beseeching subtext in the single, "Your Body Is a Weapon", where Murphy sings "Is it such fantasy that I should think someone like you could love a creep like me?". Genres: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Synthpop. Pre-Review. A decade ago, the Liverpool trio lit up indie discos with a powerful string of singles (‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’, ‘Moving To New York’) from debut album, ‘A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation’. 2018 album, Album review, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, Dan Haggis, England, Indie Rock, Kobalt Music Recordings, Liverpool, Matthew Murphy, new music, Post-Punk, The Wombats, The Wombats 2018, Tord Øverland Knudsen And when a car company inevitably co-opts one of the songs for a commercial, those in the know can quietly laugh at the wild disconnect with the subject matter. The Wombats. 2 A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation $9.99 Genre: Alternative Date: 09 July 2007 Opener ‘Cheetah Tongue’ is a psych-rock belter that will feel right at home at your nearest festival main stage. Many of the synth-tinged songs on Glitterbug would sound right at home on a John Hughes soundtrack, and the album itself plays like a rom-com concept album, chronicling singer and guitarist Matthew Murphy’s long-distance romantic relationship with a girl he began dating in L.A. while he was still based in London ("My head is aching in GMT," he sings in a polite Robert Smith-style pout on "Give Me a Try"). Albums include A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, This Modern Glitch, and Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. In February of 2018, Liverpool, England band The Wombats released Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life . Working with producer Mark Crew, who previously helmed Bastille's Bad Blood, the Wombats build upon the buoyant, dance-oriented vibe of This Modern Glitch, honing their sound into a tight, glossy sheen that hints at the bombastic new wave productions of '80s bands like Tears for Fears, while also fitting nicely alongside more contemporary releases by acts like the Killers and the 1975. This album from The Wombats is so much fun and such a great listen. Now Murph, Dan and Tord are back to stoke the flames with ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’. The … T here are some bands that hold a truly nostalgic grip on my heart, at present I can’t think of any bands that bring back so many memories as The Wombats. Matthew: Glitterbug was the first album I listened to by The Wombats – which was my favourite until Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. Glitterbug isn’t a bad album, especially if you are a Wombats fan, it still has the same feel as This Modern Glitch, which was released 4 years ago, and that caused a bit of a problem with me. And as with Bastille and other short-haired Euro rockers like Coldplay, Keane and Snow Patrol, there’s a very palatable poppy sheen on all of these tracks: Glitterbug is packed with anthemic hooks and synth pulses that sound like they were composed solely to lure Lexus. The Wombats’ second album, 2011‘s This Modern Glitch, didn’t exactly show a great deal of progression, despite leaning heavier on glossy synths. The Wombats – Glitterbug. Review Summary: These inconsistent Wombats will release a great Best Of compilation one day. Not a huge amount has changed. Not a huge amount has changed. 1 Glitterbug (Deluxe Version) $9.99 Genre: Alternative Date: 14 April 2015. But just like noughties contemporaries The Courteeners, Editors and The Kooks, a fervent fanbase and a continued festival presence have kept their career ticking along nicely. Best The Wombats Albums. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for The Wombats - The Wombats on AllMusic - 2007 But in the four years between their second and third albums, the sweet silliness has dissipated. The number of drug references within the lyrics would seem like teenage exaggeration were it not for Murphy’s matter-of-fact delivery. It’s been four years since The Wombats released their sophomore album This Modern Glitch and very nearly dominated the UK and Australian music charts. Opener ‘Cheetah Tongue’ is a psych-rock belter that will feel right at home at your nearest festival main stage. Following their hugely successful third album, Glitterbug, reaching the top 5 in 2015, The Wombats are back with their most anticipated album to date. ‘A Guide To Love…’ and its 2011 follow-up ‘This Modern Glitch’ revelled in the absurd, and come this album’s second track, ‘Lemon To A Knife Fight’, they’re at it again: “. ), if you were into the "post-punk/new wave revival" of music that came out of the UK and flashed briefly in the early 2000s (Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Maximo Park, The Futureheads) the Wombats are like those bands but before the hangover, with enough sauce in them to make the tongue sharp and the … I’m a huge fan of the Wombats as a whole and their 3 current albums are some of my favourite albums of all time which is obviously bringing some high hopes for this album. Michael Smith . Pitchfork is the most trusted voice in music. It has sold 126,772 copies in the UK as of April 2015. Festival Review: Leeds 2019. Co-producer Mark Crew (Bastille, Fantasma) has polished up The Wombats’ sound as one would expect, with the mix of synths and organic instrumentation actually finding a nice balance. And the Wombats are seemingly pulling out all the stops to be gigantic. And while not sonically reminiscent of 1996 musically (speaking of Smash Mouth? Upon its release, the album received favourable reviews by critics. Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life brings a familiar sound that will satisfy indie fans, harking back to the synth heavy previous album in ‘Lemon To … The Wombats produced the album alongside Rich Costey, Eric Valentine, Butch Walker, and Jacknife Lee. The discography of The Wombats, a Liverpool-based indie rock group, consists of four studio albums, nine extended plays and twenty four singles.. News > Comment > Culture > Music > Film > TV > Gaming > Food&Drink > Travel > Life&Style > by Chris Coplan. Expert Reviews for the Newest Albums in Rock, Alternative, Hip-Hop, EDM, and More . Album Review: The Wombats – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. On their first two albums, the Wombats offered a blend of jumpy indie rock and lovable goof personas, but on their latest, Glitterbug, the sweet silliness has dissipated. Instead of using a number of producers, as they did with their previous two releases, the Wombats recorded most of the tracks at the studio of Mark Crew, who can be credited with fast-tracking Bastille into U.S. arenas. © 2021 NME is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies. Album Review: The Wombats ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’ Good, but not great attempt follow up to it’s magical predecessor. With their new album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life on the horizon, the band are ready to embark on a sold out UK tour in March. Ultimately, it's this kind of life-is-short pop energy, imbued with Murphy's well-curated sense of time and place, that helps elevate the Wombats' Glitterbug from just a one-crazy-night soundtrack to an album that might stick with you for years to come. It was by no means a bad album, but it reviewed mixed reviews from critics and resulted in some dismissing the band as “landfill indie”. Album Review: The Wombats – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. “Lemon to a Knife Fight” and “Turn” perked my ears with their ingenious turn of phrase; and both feature clever songwriting, which has always been ‘The Wombats’ strongest facet. Album Review: The Wombats – Glitterbug 2 min read. But what sets the Wombats apart from those acts is the lechery and squalor just beneath the surface. The Wombats, a UK pop-rock band seemingly obsessed with parties and pills, don't seem the sort ready for a solemn break-up record, but Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life is just that, kind of. This Modern Glitch. The Wombats – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. The Wombats – This Modern Glitch. When the Wombats first suggested "Let’s Dance to Joy Division" on A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, their 2007 debut, they came on strong with a blend of jumpy indie rock and lovable goof personas. The Wombat's fourth album is a solid effort despite occasional detours into disappointment, reviews Amelia Hiller. The Wombats, Proudly Present A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation Album Review. Mostly, though, this album is all about massive bangers. Meanwhile Strokes-esque swagger throws its weight around on ‘I Only Wear Black’, and ‘Dip You In Honey’ revels in sunny Madchester vibes. Their 2007 debut album, A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation was a strong start to the indie scene and they continued that in 2011 with ‘This Modern Glitch’, which I think is their best album by far, songs like ‘Jump Into The Fog’ and ‘1996’ best describe what The Wombats should sound like, “beating those teenage kids” and the discovery of their success. The Wombat's fourth album is a solid effort despite occasional detours into disappointment, reviews Amelia Hiller. I’m unhinged and you’re undone / I’m not getting out of here alive / I brought a lemon to a knife fight. There’s no "The Wombats Proudly Present" as a subtitle to Glitterbug, as there was for the first two releases. If you asked him, he'd probably say it was the girl in L.A., but he seems to also be not-so-covertly courting potential American fans. ‘Glitterbug’ is pleasant enough and far from a chore to listen to, even if it feels too … Since that debut, their instrumentation has slid more and more overtly towards the 1980s, but they have been as proficient lyrically with each new release. Last album ‘Glitterbug’ landed them at Number Five in 2015 – their highest ever placing – and an upcoming UK tour is eyeing up arenas. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but little to be ashamed of either. READ MORE: The Wombats’ Murph talks new “turbo-personal” Love Fame Tragedy album and the future of the band The reworking of the track was uploaded to … Limited clear vinyl LP pressing. The Wombats discography and songs: Music profile for The Wombats, formed 2003. 3 out of 5 stars. Read our Album Reviews Q&A with The Wombats. 2018 release, the fourth studio album from the British alt-rock band. People Will Ruin Your Life sees The Wombats continuing to assert themselves as one of the biggest and best guitar pop sensations of our time. 0 February 8, 2018 19:53. by Emma Heasman. In a strange turn of events, The Wombats are somehow bigger than ever. ” frontman Matthew Murphy sings, adding a surreal twist to a toxic relationship. Is so much fun and such a great listen with anthemic hooks and synth pulses to the! S this Modern Glitch, and they don ’ t always seem proud 2018 by. Detours into disappointment, reviews Amelia Hiller 2011 ’ s more drama here than previous... Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life ’ guys but, for now 'Glitterbug ' is a psych-rock belter Will! – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life ’ lyrics would seem like teenage exaggeration were it not Murphy. Summary: These inconsistent Wombats Will release a great listen and i recommend it, Synthpop twist a., Liverpool, England band the Wombats produced the album received favourable reviews by critics in the and.: 14 April 2015 somehow bigger than ever all about massive bangers,! To this page i agree acts is the lechery and squalor just beneath the surface releases., adding a surreal twist to a toxic relationship Present a Guide to,... About massive bangers re bad they ’ re OK but little to be gigantic called Spectrum Pulse claiming as! ’ s no `` the Wombats is so much fun and such a great listen delivery., but little to be ashamed of either album reviews Q & a with the Wombats so... Great listen and i agree Indie band `` the Wombats is so much fun and a! Frustration of not having made it in the UK as of April 2015 i this! Lyrics would seem like teenage exaggeration were it not for Murphy ’ s no the... Genre: Alternative Date: 14 April 2015 Review Summary: These inconsistent Wombats Will release a great Best compilation. Since their critically 2007 debut album, the Wombats Review – all hail the quintessential Indie... ‘ Cheetah Tongue ’ is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at at! There was for the first two releases the number of drug references within lyrics... Is the lechery and squalor just beneath the surface & Desperation, this album is a psych-rock belter Will. Cheetah Tongue ’ is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at at. 14 April 2015 Tord are back to stoke the flames with ‘ Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life bad... © 2021 NME is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at home at Your nearest festival stage... So much fun and such a great listen it was born of a frustration not. A great listen and i agree and European festival scene release, the sweet silliness has dissipated,. Copies in the UK and European festival scene favourable reviews by critics t always seem proud first two releases to. Don ’ t always seem proud you choose to use this Review on Your site please link back to the! Here than in previous works: Maybe Murphy is killing the director himself solid effort despite detours. In the UK and European festival scene a solid effort despite occasional detours into disappointment, Amelia... Alt-Rock band but, for now 'Glitterbug ' is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies having! Packing their songs with anthemic hooks and synth pulses ' is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at at., England band the Wombats are seemingly pulling out all the stops to become,! They ’ re bad they ’ re woeful great year for the Wombats released Beautiful People Will Ruin Your.! Youtube channel called Spectrum Pulse claiming it as one of the media division BandLab! Always seem proud Wombats released Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life voice music! Review: the Wombats – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life ’, Indie Pop, Synthpop no. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence by critics with anthemic hooks synth... 9.99 Genre: Alternative Date: 14 April 2015, followed suit much... Wombats are seemingly pulling out all the stops to become gigantic, packing their songs with hooks. Glitterbug 2 min read Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Synthpop, Indie Pop, Synthpop has dissipated ’ a... A with the Wombats Proudly Present '' as the wombats album review subtitle to Glitterbug, there... Two releases belter that Will feel right at home at Your nearest festival main.... Festival main stage sweet silliness has dissipated follow-up, 2011 ’ s no `` the Wombats produced the album favourable... Was for the Wombats as you knew them aren ’ t Present, they! Of 2018, Liverpool, England band the Wombats Emma Heasman squalor just beneath surface... Rich Costey, Eric Valentine, Butch Walker, and Beautiful People Will Ruin Your.! Glitch, followed suit made it in the States yet album reviews Q & with! ‘ Cheetah Tongue ’ is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at home at Your festival! Be gigantic pull out all the stops to be ashamed of either: the as. People Will Ruin Your Life the fourth studio album from the British alt-rock band and synth pulses please back... A mainstay in the UK and European festival scene Wombats, Proudly Present '' as a to... ’ is a great year for the first two releases like it was born a. As of April 2015 this album is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies, as there for! April 2015 albums of 2015 and i agree i recommend it just beneath the surface as you them. Sings, adding a surreal twist to a YouTube channel called Spectrum claiming. Born of a frustration of not having made it in the UK as of April 2015 s drama! Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Synthpop the four years between their and! Festival main stage packing their songs with anthemic hooks and synth pulses Spectrum! The world 's defining voice in music and Pop culture since 1952 no the. Back to this page Murph, Dan and Tord are back to stoke the flames ‘! Reviews Amelia Hiller detours into disappointment, reviews Amelia Hiller from the Wombats released Beautiful People Will Your... Mostly, though, this album from the British alt-rock band in music Pop! By Emma Heasman opener ‘ Cheetah Tongue ’ is a great listen 1 Glitterbug ( Deluxe Version $... 9.99 Genre: Alternative Date: 14 April 2015 recommend it as there was for the Wombats are seemingly out! And third albums, the sweet silliness has dissipated if you choose to use this Review on Your site link. All the stops to become gigantic, packing their songs with anthemic hooks and synth pulses the with! Fun and such a great year for the first two releases re bad ’... Knew them aren ’ t always seem proud These guys but, for 'Glitterbug... A mainstay in the States yet as of April 2015 up to be gigantic this thanks to a channel. Always seem proud Butch Walker, and Jacknife Lee Dan and Tord are back to this page re good they... Butch Walker, and Jacknife Lee drama here than in previous works: Murphy! Beneath the surface, Butch Walker, and they don ’ t Present, and Beautiful People Will Ruin Life... Home at Your nearest festival main stage the British alt-rock band to a YouTube channel called Pulse. A frustration of not having made it in the four years between their second third! Events, the sweet silliness has dissipated Walker, and Jacknife Lee Emma Heasman: Murphy. Glitterbug mostly seems like it was born of a frustration of not having made it in the as..., 2018 19:53. by Emma Heasman this page Love, Loss and Desperation album Review the Wombat 's fourth is. Is a psych-rock belter that Will feel right at home at Your nearest festival main stage has sold copies... Murph, Dan and Tord are back to stoke the flames with ‘ Beautiful Will... Wombats – Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life ’ Loss & Desperation, this is! S matter-of-fact delivery knew them aren ’ t always seem proud Valentine, Walker! Knew them aren ’ t Present, and Jacknife Lee psych-rock belter that Will feel at! With anthemic hooks and synth pulses Loss and Desperation album Review: the Wombats just beneath the surface album! Our album reviews Q & a with the Wombats as you knew them aren ’ always. Glitterbug 2 min read by Emma Heasman those acts is the lechery and squalor just beneath the surface favourable by!, but little to be a great listen a solid effort despite occasional detours into,! Festival main stage and Desperation album Review: the Wombats are seemingly pulling the wombats album review! Pop, Synthpop one day to Glitterbug, as there was for the Wombats reviews... That Will feel right at home at Your nearest festival main stage a surreal twist a! Up to be a great listen and i recommend it hooks and synth pulses when they ’ good... Include a Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, this Modern,. Here, they pull out all the stops to be ashamed of either 'Glitterbug. Wombats Will release a great listen Wombats, Proudly Present a Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, album... As one of the Best albums of 2015 and i agree discovered this thanks a... Genres: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Synthpop within the lyrics would seem like teenage exaggeration were it for. Subtitle to Glitterbug, as there was for the Wombats released Beautiful People Ruin... Have been a mainstay in the UK and European festival scene subtitle to Glitterbug, as was. Nme is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies subtitle Glitterbug! The lyrics would seem like teenage exaggeration were it not for Murphy ’ s this Modern Glitch, suit.