Wednesday
Rat Saw God


5.0
classic

Review

by Tyler White STAFF
April 13th, 2023 | 287 replies


Release Date: 04/07/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Gut-wrenching beauty

“Bull Believer” may end up being one of the most important songs of the year. With its two-part narrative, the first half of the song tells the sad vision of watching someone you know succumb to addiction while the latter half embraces a bittersweet reflection on teenage years. With every passing line and gritty guitar passage, the sadness builds and tension grows thicker. Yet all of this tension is released at once as the gut-wrenching screams of ”Finish Him!” pierce through the cacophony of instrumentation as the narrator comes to terms with the person they are today. It’s beautiful, emotional, and resolute – and it perfectly captures the essence of Rat Saw God.

Wednesday’s unique blend of shoegaze, country, and indie rock provides a great display of the melodic, emotional, and raw . “What’s So Funny” and “Formula One” showcase the somber and mellow side of Rat Saw God. The former strips away the layers of instrumentation, leaving the soundscape a barren wasteland with nothing more than haunting guitar passages, quiet drum work, and nearly whispered, subtle vocals. The latter of the two has a bit more of an uplifting approach, with its smooth groove accentuated by airy, country-twinged leads and a beautiful contrast of male/female vocals. On the other hand, “Hot Rotten Grass Smell” and the build-up of “Turkey Vultures” demonstrate the noisy elements of Wednesday’s style. The opener wastes no time, jumping straight into gritty guitar chords filled with feedback and distortion that introduces Rat Saw God in an ambitious manner. Likewise, the release of tension in “Turkey Vultures” adds to the noisy atmosphere of the record with grainy leads, energetic drum chops, and shouts that gain intensity as the song progresses.

However, where Wednesday truly excels is in combining these two juxtaposed aspects. Their ability to seamlessly transition between mellow melody and intense grit is what defines Rat Saw God. The quiet verses of “Quarry” with their solemn reflections are contrasted with the eruption of distorted choruses where every instrument adds a new level of intensity that exudes power and emotion. In a darker tone, “Bath County” is filled with eerie verses that give way to soaring and driving choruses laden with wavering shouts and grainy guitars full of ferocity. What perfectly encapsulates this dynamic is the aforementioned “Bull Believer,” with its beautiful juxtaposition between the agonizing part one of the “Bull” and the cathartic release of the climatic “Believer.”

Alongside the powerful instrumentation, the album’s subtly impactful lyricism provides an additional layer of Rat Saw God’s beauty. Throughout the record, Wednesday wears their heart on their sleeves, emotionally opening up for anyone to relate to. The lyrical passages of “Chosen to Deserve” describe the defining moments of adolescence to a lover in such a dry way that it’s a simple reflection of what defined their early years and what to expect of the girl who used to sneak out and drink herself sick. “Quarry,” with its detailed descriptions of the lives and mannerisms of civilians, invites listeners to step into a fictional neighborhood with its problems and redemptions. Simple imagery, though sporadically found throughout, adds extra depth to the powerful surface-narrative by giving a focal point to latch on to, like the bull of “Bull Believer” or the analogous ”I ran like hell into the burning house” from “Got Shocked.” Although not necessarily taking risks in crafting complex or ambiguous lyrical narratives, Rat Saw God is rich in matter-of-fact, emotional lyrics that perfectly fit Wednesday’s style.

With such an abrasive approach of mellow and noisy instrumentation and upfront and personal lyricism, Rat Saw God could be described as an album characterized by “flaws” – but that’s exactly what defines the record. Without polish or overproduction, Wednesday sound is a powerful exclamation of a narrative, full of noise, beauty, and deeply relatable feelings and stories. It may not feel perfect, but it’s real.



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3.7
great
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KillingMoon (5)
indie/shoegazin' and country twangin' in the best kind of way...



Comments:Add a Comment 
tyman128
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


4608 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah, wouldn't be surprised if this ended up my AOTY

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


18262 Comments


5/5 ratings be like that sometimes

theBoneyKing
April 13th 2023


24673 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Gah another one got to this before I did but you really did this justice Ty!

Purpl3Spartan
April 13th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

jEnNa oRtEgA????

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

omg the new You Season Two album is finally out

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


19316 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

legendary album and review, glad you highlighted the steadily increasing energy of Turkey Vultures that song is next level

Scoot
April 13th 2023


22697 Comments


bull believer has a pretty insane 2nd half

GreyShadow
April 13th 2023


7319 Comments


FINISH HIM

yeah, i'll check this. i was already sold and then that part was just woahhhh

constantchange
April 13th 2023


549 Comments


seems kewl

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


5664 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

big hell yeah dope review

this rules

DadKungFu
Staff Reviewer
April 13th 2023


5489 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Very dope review, think this is easily making my top 5 year end list unless a bunch of people drop more stone-cold classics

pollastrerostit
April 13th 2023


873 Comments


I have never heard of this band before but this reads like it would be just my thing

Thanks for the review!

anat
Contributing Reviewer
April 13th 2023


5830 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

bull believer obviously fucks but I will say I find the final couple tracks a bit of a letdown

Pheromone
April 13th 2023


21634 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

anat anat anat anat do i dig

smaugman
April 13th 2023


5498 Comments


man i do not like the vocals

MoM
April 13th 2023


5994 Comments


This is pretty okay, and maybe it’s my being tired, but currently listening and I’m not interested in going beyond Bath County 😕

Some cool moments, though

Pikazilla
April 13th 2023


31198 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

don't give a fuck about lenderman's solo shit but the dynamics on this are unreal

anat
Contributing Reviewer
April 13th 2023


5830 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yes phero do a big flip into this

theBoneyKing
April 13th 2023


24673 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Phero you must listen or I divorce you

Pheromone
April 13th 2023


21634 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

oh man oh man oh man but i am a divorce expert



will check when im back from work



work which involves a lot of divorce law



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