Vertigo (Wand album)

Vertigo
A blurred black-and-white graphic of a canine running
Studio album by
Wand
ReleasedJuly 26, 2024 (2024-07-26)
Length39:49
LabelDrag City
Wand chronology
Spiders in the Rain
(2022) 		Vertigo
(2024)

Vertigo is a 2024 studio album by American psychedelic rock band Wand, released by Drag City.

Background

On May 7, 2024, Wand announced the release of their new studio album, along with the first single "Smile".[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Under the Radar8.5/10[4]

Vertigo was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 84 based on five reviews.[2]

Bill Pearis of BrooklynVegan called the music on Vertigo unlike the band's previous releases, being their "most expansive, subtle and varied record yet and a bit of a swerve from 2019's flashy knockout Laughing Matter".[5] A review of lead single "Smile" called this album their most ambitious yet and "a noir-tinged record looming with tension, theatrical elevation, and lush orchestration".[6] Editors at Stereogum chose this for Album of the Week, with critic Chris DeVille, writing that this release "leans into the ensemble element by building its songs out of the best parts of jam sessions", resulting in "a set of patient yet explosive guitar-powered epics that reaffirm Wand's stature as one of underground rock's hidden treasures".[7]

Track listing

  1. "Hangman" – 5:34
  2. "Curtain Call" – 3:29
  3. "Mistletoe" – 5:08
  4. "JJ" – 4:06
  5. "Smile" – 6:29
  6. "Lifeboat" – 4:30
  7. "High Time" – 7:02
  8. "Seaweed Head" – 3:31

Personnel

Wand

  • Evan Backer – bass guitar, arrangement,[7] mixing
  • Evan Burrows – drums, mixing
  • Robert Cody – guitar, recording, mixing
  • Cory Hanson – guitar, vocals, mixing

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Vertigo
Chart (2024) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[8] 91
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9] 50

See also

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 7, 2024). "Wand Announce New Album". Stereogum. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Vertigo by Wand Review". Metacritic. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Vertigo - Wand". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Gardner, Daniel (July 25, 2024). "Wand: Vertigo (Drag City) - Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Pearis, Bill (July 19, 2024). "Wand previewed new album 'Vertigo' at Bowery Ballroom". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Wand Returns with Ambitious New Album 'Vertigo' Out 7/26 – Shares Crushing New Single "Smile"". News. Glide Magazine. May 7, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b DeVille, Chris (July 23, 2024). "Wand 'Vertigo' Album Review". Album Of The Week. Stereogum. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 3, 2024.