Wildhearts, The: 21st Century Love Songs

You may have noticed that I’m one of them. You know, the dedicated, the besotted… the zealots. It often seems as though you either GET The Wildhearts or you don’t. No middle ground. The Wildhearts are not an act to illicit a ‘well, they’re OK’ kind of response. Oh no. It’s either ‘fuck me, they’re incredible, life changing and vital to my existence’ or ‘what is that stuff all about???’.

Recent times however, have seen the tide turn, with more and more falling into the camp of they can do no wrong and while I’ll admit that not every turn on this band’s incredibly twisted journey has been what even they’d describe as the right choice, The Wildhearts’ inane ability to combine aggressive, hooks, humour and insight to huge melodies always wins through. In what has been a stop start career, 21st Century Love Songs is the band’s tenth studio album (yes, I’m including whatever version of Fishing For Luckies grabs your fancy) but you wouldn’t know. Bands are meant to be tired out by the time they’re entering their fourth decade together, veering off path or simply repeating themselves - or simply not bothering recording anything new in the first place. The Wildhearts sweep all of that bullshit in the bin and stay relevant by being themselves. Belligerent, but with a good heart. Flippant but with a real social conscience. Fire spitting but with love and tenderness. Riff monsters but always crafted chorus curators.

OK, so I’m one of the converted (and you should be too) but even with that in mind, 21st Century Love Songs is one hell of an album, with a title track that opens the record with the sort of bang other bands simply can’t ignite. I’m surprised that the studio was left standing after the intro was recorded, such is the potency of the barrage of riffs, drums and bass but then the vocals kick in - that combination of Ginger and CJ still as sweet as ever as they trade lyrics in the chorus as the melodies bite in deeper and deeper. If you’ve followed the album release build up, then you’ll already know the memory bomb that is “Remember These Days�, a song that reminds that good things can come from bad and that what we’ve been through makes us who we are. But then every one of the ten tracks here hits home, the sharp biting lyrics to “Sort Your Fucking Shit Out� framed round clarion-call guitars, a building atmosphere and the sort of sing along chorus that this band always manage to meld round their intelligent messages. “My Head Wants Me Dead� illustrates its intent through a staccato burst of guitars, rolling toms and vocal harmonies that soothe the soul, before the whole song breaks down into an angry maelstrom that hits right at the heart of the matter. Although it’s maybe “Institutional Submission� where the musical anger smacks hardest, a howled vocal from Ginger locked in place by powerhouse pounding from Ritch and the thrum of Danny’s bass - and then of course it all morphs into a deep groove that proves perfect counterpoint to the guitar obliteration it punctuates.

“You Do You� sits perfectly between punk rock with pop sensibilities and intricate, near progressive anger, while “A Physical Exorcism� shifts up through the gears to be a vital spit of ferocity that detonates into harmonies, melodies and gargantuan guitars! Have I mentioned every one of the songs? Maybe not, but let’s just agree that they’re bloody excellent and be done with it.

Ten albums and three-plus decades into their time as a band, The Wildhearts are as angry, aggressive, vital, important and insightful as they ever were. No band has ever matched them in those stakes and it’s doubtful that any ever will. 21st Century Love Songs is another incredible entry into their ridiculously consistent and impressive catalogue of work.

Track Listing
1. 21st Century Love Songs
2. Remember These Days
3. Splitter
4. Institutional Submission
5. Sleepaway
6. You Do You
7. Sort Your Fucking Shit Out
8. Directions
9. A Physical Exorcism
10. My Head Wants Me Dead

Added: September 1st 2021
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Wildhearts online
Hits: 1468
Language: english

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