HOZIER - WASTELAND, BABY! ALBUM REACTION
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ค. 2024
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hozier is an amazing singer and a BRILLIANT songwriter but i think something that unfortunately often gets overlooked is how intensely political his songs often are. yeah he's horny and in love and all that but also several of his songs are very very political. like nina cried power, eat your young, swan upon leda (one of the most beautiful songs he has btw, moves me to TEARS everytime i hear it), jackboot jump, butchered tongue, be, or foreigner's god - all of these are beautiful and well written and are often inspired by literature and mythology and they're also all about colonialism, or reproductive rights, or war or fascism or capitalism or oppression in general. like this is not a reach, he is incredibly outspoken about this both in interviews and on social media, and i think once you have that lens as well to view his lyrics through it gets a lot easier to understand rather than trying to shoehorn everything to fit an interpretation of "he's talking about a personal problem/moment/relationship" you know?
Yesss, this makes a lot of sense! Thank you!!
I love his more political stuff and I have an incredibly deep respect for him for speaking out about issues like gay rights, abortion rights, and Palestine
it’s absolutely criminal that nfwmb didn’t make it to the album because it’s just sooo good and u should definitely listen to it
It's my favorite by him right with Take Me to Church and Work Song
Mavis Staples is a gospel LEGEND. She goes so hard on everything she does.
I completely understand what you mean with this album. My fave Hozier song actually is Would That I but I overlooked it for a long time, I always thought it was just fine. Then one day I was on the train on the way home from work and it came on shuffle and suddenly I just HEARD it. It spoke to me, I put it on repeat all the way home and turned the volume right up and I’ve been in love with it ever since. But a lot of his songs I think are growers. Hopefully you’ll have more luck with the newest album 😄
So glad I'm not the only one who thought what I thought haha, I was worried! 🖤 Def think it's a grower album for sure! Very keen to hear his latest!
You have *gotta* listen to him sing Shrike live. It's so beautiful. Such a stellar performance and really highlights how pure and sweet his voice gets. It's so lovely.
i was heartbroken when he didn't play it at the show i went to in september. its a life goal now to see him perform it live.
Talk is my favorite on this album for sure. Orpheus and Eurydice is a greek myth, Eurydice dies and Orpheus goes to the underworld to get her back. Hades lets them go but only if Orpheus walks in front and can't look back to make sure Euydice is behind him. feet from being back Orpheus can't take it and looks behind him so Eurydice is ripped back to the underworld forever. the literary references are always incredible and it totally comes to a head in Unreal, Unearth. album wise i find them all so radically different that i think it can be kind of jarring listening to them back to back for the first time.
Agreed! I think the closeness of listening plays a huge part in it too!
the fact this song and the movie Portrait of a Lady on Fire came out in the same year is actually devastating. they both use the story of Orpheus and Eurydice so perfectly, i can't stand it.
My favourite thing about this reference is that Hozier said he wrote the song as a "sort of elaborate self-own."
He wrote one (1) essay on Orpheus and Eurydice before dropping out of college so in Talk he's making fun of himself and guys like him who use the same pretentious reference any time they want to seem sophisticated and romantic to get in someone's pants 😂
Best part is, it works. That song HITS
I really fell deep into this album after its release, definitely one to relisten to and really appreciate the lyrical components of the album, production not as good as Unreal Unearth but very much fits into the description of “love songs for the end of the world”, which was his description for the album- also his last before Covid… so really was on theme for that whole period. Movement is a masterpiece from start to finish, Talk is seductive goodness, Dinner and Diatribes is the perfect sexy upbeat song, Shrike is absolutely gorgeous and the live versions are even better, Wasteland Baby! is just an amazing song of reflection, and As it Was feels like a soundtrack for the most angsty tv show soundtrack. Also Nina Cried Power is dedicated to civil rights activists- “it’s not the waking it’s the rising” as in it’s not people just realizing something is wrong in the world, but taking the action to do something about it. All the artists he mentioned used their platform for a purpose, “crying power”.
LOVED reading this!!!
This album was def a grower for me as well, wasn't a huge fan of much if it on first listen but now there's a lot of songs I go back to.
Glad we're insync haha
@@bennshouts Yeah, sometimes with his music, it takes a couple listens to go from just vibing to suddenly _Hearing_ what it is he's trying to say. Like, the light suddenly dawns and you're like Ooooooooh THAT'S what he meant?!?!
I think Would That I is a delicate beautiful poetic song solely focused on the love he feels and no other factors. He describes one feeling in beautiful intense detail and leaves space in the production to mostly focus on poetic lyrics. It grew on me the more I listened
💞💘🌸🦋💗 TIMESTAMPS 💗🦋🌸💘💞
1:13 - nina cried power
3:23 - almost (sweet music)
5:20 - movement
7:48 - no plan
9:59 - nobody
12:04 - to make noise (sing)
14:05 - as it was
16:33 - shrike
19:11 - talk
20:49 - be
23:26 - dinner & diatribes
24:50 - would that i
26:23 - sunlight
28:04 - wasteland, baby!
I never fully connected with Talk until I heard a live version and then my brain melted a little bit lol. Quite possibly the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Also the Greek mythology nerd in me appreciates the Orpheus and Eurydice imagery. The album mixes don't always do the songs justice, When in doubt, go for a live version is my advice!!! 😆
Haha okay, thank you
Yeah, the live version of Shrike on TH-cam is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the album version...because you can HEAR what he's saying. It doesn't sound like he's underwater in the live versions. Lol
Almost(sweet music) is a tribute song to all the artists that surrounded his youth, maybe why is sounded a little odd. Highly recommend looking at his playlist of all the songs that were mentioned in that song tho because it really gives you an insight into his musical inspirations. It’s also really impressive how he was able to string all these song titles together to make his own storyline.
I think you'll definitely enjoy his next album Unreal Earth a bit more than this one. I agree, his voice does feel very far away in a lot of his music actually. His songs are veryyy wordy which can be difficult to listen to as well, but being wordy leans more into that folk tale singer at the pub kinda vibe. I rarely come back to this album unfortunately
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought so 🖤 Keen for the next though!
As others have said, this album is definitely one that grows on you. The first time I listened to it I didn't like it nearly as much as his first album, but now I really love all the songs, well except Sing. That song is the only song Hozier has ever released that isn't on my playlist. I think it's such a jarring first listen because it has songs like Movement that just hit right away, and then songs like Be that you need time to process to fully appreciate them. It's just constantly making your brain go from hell yeah, to huh?.
yeah, i'd say wasteland baby is his most polarizing album. i think whether its your favorite or least favorite depends on which aspect of music you're more drawn to: instrumentation or lyrics/emotion
for me personally, i'd rank it last of his three albums because its the one i emotionally connect with the least, but ironically i also listen to it the most because its the easiest to vibe to and is more sonically interesting/experimental
on the bright side, based on your criticism on this one, i think you're going to love unreal unearth. it takes the best parts of the first two albums and puts it together. the gut punch of the debut, and production of wb.
Love how you knew "talk" was sexy before he sand one word! "Nobody" has been my ring tone for forever (which is ironic because it usually IS NOBODY lol!)... LOVE that that you said to take a shot everytime he says "honey" Lol, I always say that 🤣
Sorry not talk lol "no plan" Lol
hahahaha love it!
To Noise Making (Sing) is basically about depression. Singing is what this person loves and what keeps them going and he's essentially just telling them to keep singing. Even when depression takes over, just wait (don't kys) "until you hear that music play again"
It is so uplifting I can't deal ❤
@@erikaroth6049 yes! I got a tattoo that says "honey, sing" just cause I love the lyrics so much 🥹
Honestly fair enough, I do see where you're coming from with your critiques & I also feel like some songs linger a bit too long. BUT, the songs that hit, man, they hit HARD for me. Makes the whole album a gem in my opinion. Shrike is endlessly gorgeous - Would that I, No Plan, and Movement are all magnificent. And there are a bunch of others that I personally connect with as well. I saw that the first album was p much love at first listen for you, which is super exciting because it's a gorgeous record. But I hope you did enjoy at least some of the experience of listening to this one. Can't wait for your review of Unreal Unearth :)
Thanks for being so respectful! Totally agree with you, the ones that hit, HIIIIIIITTTTTT! It's a very different album to debut, which is always going to either be a great thing or not so great for people! Some of the best songs I've heard come from albums that I don't like OVERALL, best thing about music
Ben !! so glad to see another Hozier video from you! if i remember correctly Almost (Sweet Music) is dedicated to all of the jazz musicians that laid the path before him. the majority of the lyrics in the song are actually just song titles.
Yessss, couldn't not continue the journey! Ahhh, makes a lot more sense haha, thank you!
Yes -- this song is in reference to how he helps pull himself out of depression/anxiety which is to lay in his bed and listen to jazz albums. He references the legendary albums that have influenced him and saved his mental health. It sounds like a kind of cruel song at face value, like he's talking about replacing a partner, 'I laugh like me again, she laughs like you' etc, but in reality, the song is just about him finding himself again when he's sad through music.
Would love to see you listen to NFWMB or Blood Upon The Snow. They are songs of Hozier's that arent on any album but they are definitely favorites of mine. Maybe you could do a whole video of his non album songs as there are a couple of them out there! Definitely enough of them to make a vid for them exclusively.
YES PLEASEEEE NFWMB is a MASTERPIECE
He's got us opening dictionaries over here lol. I'm still confused by most of these songs after many listens tbh. His first album is 100% the best one in my opinion. It has better melodies and more accessible underlying meanings. Shrike is definitely gorgeous though
HAHAHHAHA yes
Im really glad you say your honest opinion! Makes these reactions fun to watch, keep it up :)
Thank you so much!
This album is a bit of a grower. It helps once you realize it’s a concept album about love at the end of the world. Also as an ex choir kid, Sing is one of my favorites lol. It took me a few time to actually hear this album, but once I did I quickly got obsessed. Though, for me, unreal unearth is easily the best. It’s a true masterpiece
Debut album was emotionally and lyrically so satisfying, and sonically the ideas were incredible, but the execution and production in a technical sense were not of the best quality. I think hozier might’ve still been in college or around that age when he put out that album, and then Take Me to Church unexpectedly blew up and propelled his career upwards. There’s so much heart in that album, but the technical proficiency leaves a lot of room for growth.
Wasteland, Baby! is a project that i think was slightly over ambitious. He stepped up his game production-wise, but then his voice kind of was lost in the process. This album is, i think, meant to showcase different aspects of humanity in the face of death and the end of the world. Whether it’s political, like Nina Cried Power, which is about civil rights activists who stood up against oppression, fighting against a world-ending force. Songs like Shrike and Almost sweet music are about the death of a relationship, but also new beginnings. Then there are songs about lust and hedonism like Talk, in which the narrator basically talks a big game about how great of a lover they are, but it’s more like pretty words that distract from their true intentions of lust. And on the opposite end, songs about a real love, love that is more important to him than shallow materialism or even the literal end of the world, like Nobody, Sunlight, Wasteland Baby. In Dinner & Diatribes, he talks about escaping the slow death of social norms and societal expectation, and in No Plan, he says “hey, the world is going to end one day. let’s live life to the fullest, and not be bound by the pain of your past or your fear of what could happen.”
This whole album really attempts to make that overarching theme in each song, some with more success than others. But some songs are honestly just a bit too convoluted for my tastes. It’s hard to connect to it unless you really understand what he’s talking about and even then, the through line is just kind of weak at points. I do appreciate this album for its hidden gems and the growth that hozier went through in finding his sound. Without this as a learning experience, I don’t think we would have gotten Unreal Unearth,
which pretty much combines the best of both worlds from his previous records. I am so psyched to see your review of it!
been waiting for this one ❤️
😘😘😘
this album is my least favourite (even though I still like it and actually saw him in Aus on this tour which was incredible), took a while to grow on me. Also took a few key moments where a song would come on and it would just really hit me. Like you said, not very cohesive but there are gems and they grow on you too.
Almost sweet music was one of those songs. The feeling of loving someone, that relationship ends, and you're trying to feel human again. You start to see someone new but you're not over the last love, and some moments just take you out of it. Your favourite music is marred because you shared it with the first person, the new person laughs and you see the other person in their place instead (out of nostalgia, longing, regret, whatever). Wanting to love this person but your memories are getting in the way. More than a little heartbreaking. She'll turn to me awake and ask "is everything alright?" because she can tell I'm not myself, no matter how hard I try to move on. I wouldn't know where to start...
Omg this description... PERFECTION! 👏🏻
So true. i never fully listened to this album until i had a long drive to make and put it on. Almost sweet music was a song that i used to skip but then when i really heard it, I loved it so much. Wasteland Baby is not my favorite of his 3 albums, but I appreciate it for the stepping stone that it was in his music career and there are definitely some gems hidden within. He really got to delve more into the indie rock vibe with this album.
If I had to rank by album I guess it would be 3, 1, 2 currently, as his newest album has consumed my soul and has yet to let go, whereas I've had more time to incorporate his first and second albums into my personality already. 🤣
But there are songs from every album I love dearly and a true ranking would look like all 3 albums in a blender plus all his extra songs that never got on an album like Blood Upon the Snow, Through Me (The Flood), Arsonists Lullaby, etc.
Yeah, i dont love most of this album but the ones i love on it I LOVE and pretty much only listen to those on a relisten. 🤷♀️
wasteland baby is an album you definitely have to go back to to get true appreciation for each song. when i first heard it shrike, nina cried power, and sunlight were really the only songs i went back to listen to time and time again. then i started listening to his whole discography in preparation for the release of unreal unearth and gained such a huge appreciation for each song. now, shrike still tops my list, but so do movement, talk, and would that i. in my opinion, hozier doesn't have a single bad song, and all of them have at least one thing you can appreciate about it.
bye!! ur reactions always make my day &&&& unreal unearth is more cohesive compared to wasteland baby xx
Thank you!!
Talk is my favourite song atm.
This is my absolute favorite album from Hozier.
I’m so happy you liked Nobody! So many people don’t give it the love it deserves. It’s in my top 3 on this album and its not 3!
Yassss
I think you should make a Hozier playlist soon! So ppl dont have to scroll forever to find your videos for him. Love you thoughts about his music. Not enough people react to his stuff, IMO.
This music is so fking pornographic. Love it!
Nina Cried Power is so rich with homage and respect and... well, power. The meaning behind that one is so hecking good. He does tend to be super hit or miss with me musically, even though I vibe with him sociopolitically, so I totally get/agree with why you were having trouble connecting, too. His latest album has an external structure with a Dante theme, so you might flow with that one better, maybe, if you choose to continue with him. It would make sense if you didn't, though. I would still recommend checking out Eat Your Young as a single at least, though.
And, of course, "The Killing Kind" by Marianas Trench awaits. 😄
would love to see u listen to the backseat lovers ! waiting to spill is my favorite album of all time
Yess second this!
0:31 Oh Hi! Lol, happy to be of service. 😂❤ I'm glad you're having a good time with the music.
HAHAH hey bestie
@@bennshouts 👋😊
I love your honesty! I understand where you're coming from with not vibing with this one. The main throughline of the albums are 1) loving someone just as they are and 2) loving someone through hard times (e.g. rough political climates and the end of the world) but the album doesn't *sound* cohesive. And yeah, some of them drag on a bit and get repetetive. I don't mind any of that, it's a no-skip album for me (I even keep the CD in my car as my default background music) but I totally understand how it's not for everyone. I'm excited to see what you think of Unreal Unearth, cause I agree with the other folks who have commented that they think you'll like that one better.
Also,there's something so funny about how much you were smiling and grooving when you said "love the death stuff" at 8:55 😂
Almost (sweet music) is all references to his musical influences at a young age... lyrics from and titles of songs (as well as artist name drops), so it can be harder to connect with that song for sure if you don't know those references (I don't think anyone initially knew all of them lol... I only knew a few but there are breakdowns of it around.
Listening to this album in the car today I think I finally realized why it doesn't work for me as well as the others - my least favorite songs just go on for too long, especially when I simply don't love the general sound of this album. There are a few I do really love, but mostly I've found it a slog even after so many listens. LOVE his first and latest albums though.
Yesss! This makes sense!
LOVEEEE hozier. should i recommend you listen to Luke Hemmings album When Facing the Things We Turn Away From. Even if you’re not a listener of 5SOS his album is so beautiful and the lyrics and melodies are so beautifully written and composed. one of my all time favourite albums. would love your reaction
I love a few songs (talk, movement, would that i) on this album but its definitely not my favorite from him. His debut and unreal unearth are absolute bangers though
Can't wait to get to his most recent!
Plss Donna missal revel album it’s so good❤️😭🙏
it's on the list, promiseeeee
two songs from the Nina Cried Power EP are not on the album but are amazing and also quite horny lol. Moment’s Silence is a metaphor for oral sex (a moment’s silence when my baby puts her mouth on me). and NFWMB is “nothing fucks with my baby” and it is about how nothing fucks with this woman, but not because he as a man is protecting her, but because of how strong and terrifying she is. He worships her but is also slightly scared of her. She is powerful and doesn’t need a man for “protection.” It is crazy empowering and one of my favorites.
No plan hits home for me as an atheist in an Irish Catholic family. My interpretation is that God is not in control of you and that we all have free will so you may as well use it to enjoy this life rather than worrying over divine judgement in your afterlife. In the grand scheme of the universe we are insignificant and should find comfort and pleasure in our finite time on this world.
Be is the most political? Ummm Nina Cried Power and Foreigner’s Tongue…
I love Hozier beyond comprehension but this is his worst album (still good especially Shrike and Dinner & Diatribes) and I think youll enjoy the other much more :)
This album took many listens for me, but now its my fave! Though Unreal Unearth is closing in for me🩷