Shriek: Wye Oak Reinvented

Chicago – When Wye Oak released Civilian in 2011, indie rockers Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack found themselves pretty much on everyone’s radar. After extensive touring, Wasner returned to the duo’s native Maryland, and Stack found himself moving states away, living on the West Coast and eventually settling in Texas. While on the verge of dismantling, the two opted instead to rediscover their mutual love of music and collaborate on another album with miles between them. In the process each explored their inner creativity and pushed the limits of their comfort zones. In a dark place and struggling with writing, Jenn dropped her guitar, grabbed a hold of a bass, and didn’t look back, unleashing her inner turmoil into superb, ardent lyrics. Andy spent most his time with keys and synths playing off her emotions. The pair intentionally reinvented themselves. The good intentions of Wye Oak definitely paid off. Shriek stunningly marries Wasner’s ambient calls and intriguing bass with Stack’s experimental beats and futuristic melodies, creating a magical and astonishing soundscape.

“Before” starts out like something you might hear in 2001: A Space Odyssey, as you float amid flickering stars, but then Jenn Wasner breaks in with her bass and soft, beautiful voice, taking you on an even greater journey to the depths of your soul. Her lyrical self examination is something we can all surely relate to: “This morning I woke up on the floor, thinking I’ve never dreamed before. And in the afternoon, the nagging thought that I have never lived or else forgot.”The title track, “Shriek,” immediately breaks into a great melody accompanied by Jenn’s sweet voice. It leaves you lost in Wasner’s vocals and Stack’s oft eerie melodies. “The Tower” starts out with an awesome beat that gets your body moving and eventually leads into a striking burst of sound. The keys control this song at times, but when Wasner’s bass breaks in, it fully grabs a hold of you, gripping like Jenn’s guilt.

When “Glory” starts, it seems to brighten things up, but if you listen carefully to the lyrics, you know this song is emotionally raw. Towards the end, Stack’s experimental sounds become almost uncomfortable, taking you deep into Jenn’s psyche. Halfway through, the album slows a bit. “Sick Talk” greets you with lovely chords and vocals. The same can be said with the eighties-esque “Schools of Eyes.” Although, at the mid-point, this song briefly explodes into chilling emotional darkness but then falls back onto its melodious beginnings. One of the standout tracks is “Despicable Animal.” It too bears 80s influences. It is filled with fury and frustration, but it also expresses a sense of relief, as if Jenn has unloaded a heavy burden off her shoulders in the writing of the lyrics.

That feeling is contrasted in “Paradise.” The song harshly starts off with a hint of anger in Wasner’s voice. It eventually calms as if finding epiphany, making it easy to be followed by the dreamy “I Know the Law,” which at times sounds strikingly like Sade or a feminine version of Ryhe. Wasner pours her heart out in this gem, revealing her inner struggles: “In order to preserve this life, I have given my life precedence over yours.” Wasner has talked about grappling with the selfish nature of art, but humans are naturally selfish in our instinct for survival. The ability to philosophize often impedes upon these instincts of self-preservation, filling us with grief when our actions and choices hurt those we hold in dear, making her struggle understandable not just to artists but to anyone who bothers to reflect on life.

The album ends with the upbeat “Logic of Color.” This is Wasner’s final release. She unshackles herself from her emotions: “Everything that you see is free, and so is what I make, and so is what I claim to be.” Shriek is Jenn’s personal and beautiful journey of self-discovery. It is an honor to be invited to delve into her artistic mind, listening to the powerful reflections of her heavy heart. It may take you a few listens to appreciate all that Shriek has to offer. Each new take reveals additional layers, exposing reason after reason to fall in love with Wye Oak all over again.

Shriek has a release date of April 29, 2014, through Merge Records. You can pre-order it on the Wye Oak website or on iTunes.

(Photos: Shervin Lainez)

About
Latest Posts

Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.

You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.