Album Preview: Wye Oak

New York – With a new record on the horizon, Wye Oak is branching out from the heavy guitar work that characterized their sound over the course of three studio albums. The forthcoming LP is due out on April 29^th and the duo has already made public two cuts from Shriek. The first single was “The Tower,” which came to us back in January. Now, a second glimpse of the album emerges. True to its name, “Glory” merits praise.

With roots in Baltimore, Wye Oak is guitarist and vocalist Jenn Wasner and percussionist and vocalist Andy Stack. When the two started out, they were called Monarch. 2007 saw the independent release of their first album as well as their renaming. The moniker is a nod to the honorary state tree of Maryland, which lived to be over 460 years old (!). If Children was rereleased in 2008, when the duo signed with Merge Records, and the label subsequently released Knot (2009), My Neighbor/My Creator EP (2010) and the self-produced stunner Civilian (2011).

Swapping the dark tonality of noise pop and shoe gaze that has influenced their sound in the past, “The Tower” and “Glory” betray a new foundation for the group in synthy folk-rock. Building on a structure based in pop like never before, the two somehow guard the shadowy, spectral atmosphere that permeates their discography. Ditching her signature guitar, Wasner experiments fully with bass on the group’s latest endeavor and this switch swerves the group’s sound in an entirely new direction.

The instrumental shift lends itself to a deepening of this act’s sound. Peeling away the fuzzed-out guitars on albums passed, Wye Oak reimagines their work in a completely organic way. Stripped down, these tracks are more powerful, intricate and intimate for their nakedness. Wasner’s vocals are showcased intently on both tracks, and interact with Stack’s percussion on a new plain. In short, the minimization of instrumentation provides a simplicity this act may have been lacking all along.

Shreik rides the coattails of what was undoubtedly this act’s breakthrough record. Civilian was named best album of 2011 by A.V. Club, and earned the duo a place in the collective conscious of indie fans that thrive on dark-brewed alt-rock. After touring at length in the wake of Civilian, Stack relocated to the West Coast. The distance inspired (and required) a new approach to song writing. They clearly worked hard to bridge the distance, and these recent tracks prove their success. Despite the separation, Wye Oak is delivering some tightly knit, fresh material.

Reinvention can be a gamble for new bands, particularly in the wake of a flagship album such as Civillian. Yet, the first two servings from Shriek demolish all hints of risky business. The album in full promises to be a knockout, and while we wait the two are touring extensively. The two are currently in Europe, but will return stateside for Coachella and continue a North American tour through May. Investing in a ticket means more than a vote for this act, as $2 off every tick sold in the US will go to a local charity of the band’s choice (via Air Traffic Control). Looks good, Wye Oak, we like you even more.

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Liz Rowley

Born in Mexico and raised in Toronto, Jerusalem and Chicago by a pair of journalists, Liz comes to BestNewBands.com with an inherited love of writing. After discovering a niche for herself in music journalism and radio while at Bates College in Maine, she always keeps a running playlist of new music to soundtrack her place in the world. Liz is passionate about helping dedicated, talented musicians gain the exposure they deserve. A recent transplant to Brooklyn from Hawaii, she is plagued by an incurable case of wanderlust and cursed with an affinity for old maps and old things like typewriters and vintage books. She adores photography and running and is very good with plants. Having come of age in Chicago, Wilco speaks to her soul. If she could be anything, she would be a cat in a Murakami novel.