‘Oh! The Ocean’ Is Punchy And Full Of Lyrical And Instrumental Imagery
Originally from Liverpool, The Wombats are not new to the indie-rock music scene. Creating music as a band since 2003, musicians Matthew Murphy, Tord Øverland Knudsen, and Dan Haggis have been experimenting with their sound in each album and continue to do so in their latest album, ‘Oh! The Ocean.’
photo by Julia Godfrey
‘Oh! The Ocean’ starts strong with punchy but mellow instrumentals. “Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come” is full of layered and complex instrumentals that set the tone for the album. The vocals are relaxed but grungy and layered with angst that creeps to the surface as the album continues. “Can’t Say No” is more upbeat and reminiscent of classic rock-and-roll and The Wombats’ early indie-rock sound. Nostalgic electric guitar riffs mesh with lyrical imagery that feels like the final scene in a coming-of-age film: “And we try to sit still and feel it all / But we'd rather run away than feel at all / You know I can't say no / Doing everything we can to increase the noise / And we don't care if its trash that fills the void.”
The Wombats’ subtle 1980s influences shine through in “Blood On The Hospital Floor,” a jumpy track with feel-good instrumentals and exciting drums. The vocals are vibrant and colorful, matching the sentiment that our minds often work overtime to keep us overwhelmed and anxious. However, we have a lot more control and patience than we think: “I tend to think in forevers / My mood, it swings like the weather / Blood on, blood on, blood on the hospital floor/You think it's worse than it is / Looks bad but it's easy to fix / Blood on, blood on, blood on the hospital floor.” No matter how bad we make a situation out to be, there are some things in the chaos we can resolve.
“Blood On The Hospital Floor” Official Video Directed, Produced and Edited by James Slater
The album turns down a darker and more experimental alley with “Kate Moss.” The track is immediately more grungy with deep and twisted instrumentals. A quaint piano melody balances angsty and subdued vocals and keeps the song cohesive with the rest of the album. The lyrics reflect the melancholic tone of the track and create a sobering feeling for listeners: “Some of us rage against the dying of the light / Some of us turn our cash to gold / You’re never wrong and I toe the party line / Until I hit my limits and explode.”
As the song title would suggest, “Gut Punch” is punchy, and the chorus is catchy and vibrant. A quirky keyboard instrumental balances more grounded and laid-back drum and bass production. The addictive rhythm feels circular as if you are spinning around and around in a cycle of self-destruction. On a similar but more direct note, “My Head Is Not My Friend” discusses the challenges of constantly feeling stuck in your own head. The lyrics are honest, relatable, and brutally self-critical: “Wake up and bounce right back / Whiskey in a bubble bath / Empty apologies / Maybe they'll cancel me / Maybe my schemes and plans / Are just a waste of time / Buy into all the trends / Gold shoes with claws at the end / Push away and don't get close / Doomsday scenarios.” The lyrics constantly pose questions to listeners and reflect how when we feel out of control, our minds often instinctively take over and build elaborate scenarios that we convince ourselves will come true. The repetitive and building bass and drum reflect the never-ending cycle of self-destructive thoughts that pass through our heads until they explode in the chorus, representing the breaking point when our thoughts become too much to handle.
From the playful and cheerful rhythm and instrumentals to the lyrics, “I Love America And She Hates Me” represents everything ‘Oh! The Ocean’ aims to achieve. An uplifting rhythm contrasts and masks depressing lyrics about the illusion of the so-called American Dream: “I love America and she hates me / Gets all her pleasure from smothering my dreams / And all my fear just keeps her fed / And I'll love America till the bullet's in my head.” The drum and vocals blend seamlessly as they echo each other throughout the song. “The World’s Not Out To Get Me, I Am” is more blunt and grungy than other tracks, but the lyrics echo sentiments expressed earlier in the album about our minds sometimes being our greatest obstacle. The electric guitar is sharp around the edges in the best way, but when the chorus hits, the sound settles into a more classic rock-and-roll rhythm.
The tail end of the album has a distinctly more wistful and yearning quality. “Grim Reaper” highlights more distant guitar, and the vocals are airy and light. The relaxed instrumentals throughout the track reflect the imagery painted with the descriptive lyrics: “I don't ever, ever wanna leave / Let the Grim Reapеr keep calling me / We’ll be laying on a beach.” The nostalgic elements of “Grim Reaper” continue in “Reality Is A Wild Ride.” The track features more sultry and rich instrumentals, which are quickly balanced out more light in the chorus. The verses and chorus are catchy and have an easy, nostalgic, and addictive quality.
“Swerve (101)” is secretive, with vocals and scratchy instrumentals that whisper and build until the track ends. There’s a build of anticipation and explosion in each chorus before settling back into the angsty verses: “You'd never not be happy / Wearing Tom Ford in Amalfi / Be so good if it could stop / Instead we've got TikTok models / With all of thеir slippery morals / It’s gonna be fun until it's not.” The instrumentals and lyrics continue to snowball as the track reflects on today’s internet culture and questions if we are heading toward destruction.
To round out the album, “Lobster” combines relaxed but sultry instrumentals and vocals with just a twinge of grunge and angst. Quirky distortions add a whimsical quality to the track and brighten the deeper instrumental elements throughout the song. “Lobster” is a culmination of all the instrumental and vocal components the album plays around with. ‘Oh! The Ocean’ is perfect for any indie-rock fan, but with strong lyrical imagery and some experimental instrumental elements, the album has something for everyone. Make sure to give the album a listen below!
