"Remote" by Wallows

When the world needed them most, Wallows returned. A year after the release of their debut album, “Nothing Happens,” the California-based trio dropped a follow-up in October. “Remote” is a collection of six, short songs of the indie-pop persuasion.

Wallows entered the music scene in 2017 with a clear soft-rock sound; they established an alt soft-rock reputation through percussion and electric guitar heavy songs such as “Sun Tan” and “Pleaser.” With the release of “Nothing Happens” in 2019, their sound began to change. Synthetic and electronic elements were introduced building upon their soft-rock beginnings while also drawing fame to their foundations. I’d recommend listening to “Are You Bored Yet?” featuring Clairo as an example of their early change. Regardless of previous adjustments to their sound, “Remote” still came off to me as an obvious shift in direction. Throughout this album, what remained of their traditional percussion and guitar riffs have been replaced by experimental electronic sounds, further moving their genre from soft-rock.

The EP opens with the strongest song, in my opinion, “Virtual Aerobics.” Drawing the listener in with a heavy bass line and bouncy harpsichord-like beat, “Virtual Aerobics” immediately fills space with a pressure to get up and dance. What I like most about “Virtual Aerobics” is the fusion of the old and new Wallows. The lyrics sound like something they’d write in 2017, particularly the chorus: “Wanna dress in what makes you like me / I’ll probably overwear these Nikes / I’ll clean them off when they get a scuff.” While the lyrics start the EP off on a familiar note, Wallows’ instrumentals experiment with sounds unused in any of their older music. Expanding upon their traditional usage of string and percussion elements, the band incorporates a largely synthetic spin to their sound. It blends incredibly well and works perfectly as an introduction to this new EP. 

While “Virtual Aerobics” has a modern synthetic presence to it, songs like “Dig What You Dug” and “Coastlines” are oddly New Wave-esque. They embrace a synth-pop leaning, as if they were stolen off the shelf of a record store from the 80s. These songs sound like a mirage of the old Wallows. Their indie-rock independence seems to have been enveloped by the pop scene. Wrapping up the EP, “Wish Me Luck,” the most electronic song of this project, is unlike anything I have heard from Wallows. But I don’t hate it. After disliking the first few songs, I thought I might not be able to listen to anymore of Wallows. I thought their sound had changed too much for me. “Wish Me Luck” convinced me otherwise. Yes, it’s full of synthetic sounds, but these boys bring it back to their roots. Not only is the song catchy, but it also has powerful lyrics, like “I don’t wanna lose myself to all my insecurities / If I told you all of them, who would it hurt more, you or me?,” and a heavy beat to bounce your head along to. That has always been what I like most about the Wallows’ music: it takes me out of this world and into one where I want to dance. “Wish Me Luck” graciously met my expectations.

All in all, “Remote” stirs up bittersweet feelings in me. In seeing the band develop, I feel like I’m watching my child grow up. Wallows is expanding their sound and style, which is natural for a band, I just hope future records continue to incorporate inklings of that soft-rock sentimentality I fell in love with.

Shea Humphries