So I do this thing in my life where I overthink everything. I had a few things written, and two days before, I deleted all of it and restarted. I was thinking a more traditional review, but then I thought: I'm gonna make it about me.
Not gonna go through the tracklist on the album in order. I'm gonna start with my least favorite songs, and go into my favorites. Which feels weird, because I do enjoy all of his music.
I remember the first time I heard this album. My brother was rocking a raging boner for Hozier, and I thought, the guy who does "Take Me to Church"? Some one-hit wonder?
Boy was I wrong.
He's grown into one of my favorite artists and lyricists/songwriters. I'm not gonna dive into the meanings behind every line and all of his songs, but this guy... You listen to his music and go, wow, that's good. And when you listen again and again and again to what he's singing... well, you're about to listen, so enjoy, listen a few times, and read into the songs. You'll have a good time, and hopefully enjoy it, based solely off the fact that this dude is an exceptional songwriter.
Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier
Release date: March 1st, 2019
"Bluesy" / "folk" is how I'd describe it.
In order from least to best:
"As It Was"
"Nobody"
(Where I start having trouble picking is about here)
"Almost (Sweet Music)"
"Wasteland, Baby!"
"Shrike"
(This #1 always)
"Would That I"
Descriptions:
"To Noise Making (Sing)" — Just a song about singing. I love the message. I suck at singing, but I love it. Just sing if it brings you joy.
"Be" — Be as you've always been, take me back to before things got bad. My love, the world, my life. Fine song, it's just not catchy enough for me.
"No Plan" — This music, the beat, sounding like a hippie... it's groovy. It makes me want to just move. And has some darkness to it. Sit in and watch the sunlight fade. I like this idea of no plan. No right or wrong way to move forward in life or a relationship. Just going with it.
"Sunlight" — Kind of the opposite of no plan here. Much more upbeat. For me, it's just a tad bit repetitive, but enjoyable. Promise of something bright and happy. Your love is like sunlight, my kind of love.
"Talk" — This gives me pretentious cocky vibes. Imagine being loved by me... But the hey-yeahs in the song... Always singing 'em.
"Nina Cried Power" — A great song. Paying respects to those who came before him. Music is powerful. The man champions for LGBTQ communities and women's rights and just the rights for everyone. It's easy. See people as people and treat them how you want to be treated.
When I saw him this past year, he came out and talked about oppression and the Irish revolution. And talking about a revolution of love, kindness, and just a revolution towards a world we all want to live in. Small actions matter, showing up for each other. I sometimes feel like my actions aren't always impactful, being a good person / good man, and I get downtrodden sometimes. But this song is always a reminder that no matter what I'm always going to try and be a better person every day.
Peace, compassion, and empathy are always an option.
"As It Was" — This song is dark and slow. The "sad song on this album." I like that this album, and Hozier musically in general, is very different, and the thing that ties it together is his voice.
"Nobody" — Loving someone not only because of the good, but because of the faults they have... That's love. This song should probably be up higher on my list. It gives me goosebumps. But also I think I've thought that listening to most of this album... hard to rank them.
"Dinners & Diatribes" — This one grew on me, hearing it live bumped it up the list. That's the kind of love I've been dreaming of. Being out and about with someone, going through the motions when all you want is to leave and be alone with them...
"Movement" — Quite the opposite of "To Noise Making (Sing)." We aren't singing anymore, we are dancing. Arguably, I'm worse at dancing than singing 🤷♂️ oh well, still gonna do it.
This is further up on my list based solely on the music. The slow dance feel for it does it for me.
"Almost (Sweet Music)" — Hozier's ode to great jazz musicians. Catchy, fun, easy to sing—all I want in a song.
"Wasteland, Baby!" — This song gives me
"Cherry Wine" vibes (another Hozier song and one of my favorites). I think the sappy fuck of a man in me loves Hozier for these songs... Tell me this new love is an apocalypse / the world ending, and tell me how it's still beautiful. The man gets me. Overthinker Me will find the worst case scenario and still find the bright side. Kind of the theme of most of this album: Love in the face of destruction.
"Shrike" — This is the first song I heard that my brother played for me. And I heard it in the midst of my first divorce. (I've only had one so far, but humor me.)
This metaphor of not cherishing what you had doesn't actually ring true for me, but when you're going through it, it's a powerful reminder. Just because something shitty is happening doesn't mean that there wasn't good in that sadness. And though I'm glad it's over, I miss that connection and hoping that, for my next long-term partner, I do the best I can at showing up.
I couldn't whisper when you needed it shouted, ah but I'm singing like a bird bout it now.
Me and my love songs, right?
"Would That I" — SURPRISE SURPRISE, Boober's favorite song is another love song.
The metaphors in these past few songs go crazy. Absolutely love these last three songs. But this one, all-time favorite Hozier song. Just the guitar coming in at the beginning of the song still gives me goosebumps.
I've been trying to give my opinions and not go diving into song meanings and how deep some one liners are. Just enjoy the album and the songs. But this one, oh no. I'm going right to the source:
Hozier: "It's about somebody characterizing all of their past romances, people that they cared for, as trees they took shelter under, and describing a would-be jealous lover as fire that ultimately burns that wood... But there's a weirdly elaborate pun in it: 'Would that I' is like a way of saying 'I wish that I did.'"
It's a pun on all the "wood" that I've loved. Finding comfort and "shelter" in comfortable things, people, relationships, and having someone burn all those bad old habits away good just sounds freeing to me.
Again, ol' divorced Boober has had thoughts of being jaded and not loving to his full capacity in the future. And the thought of not carrying baggage into a new relationship, trust issues, old tendencies... burning all of the things that one might hold onto...
Back to the theme of this whole album: Love in the face of destruction. A fire burning being something that destroys isn't usually seen as something good, but a fire cleansing everything to start anew is a kind of love I would enjoy.
And I can safely say I'm not feeling like a man jaded on love. So in awe, there I stood as you licked off the grain. Though I handled the wood I still worship the flame.
I'm not sure what's the "norm" for an album review. If I hit key points, or if it's more like YSC and Boober just blabs about music for a bit. I'll yap and type away.
This is a top album for me start to finish. I love dumb music you can just put on and listen to. Metal music does that for me. Let me just fucking get at it with this head banging...
This does something more for me.
It makes me feel, makes me cry, and makes me think, and some things are very obvious metaphors or interpretations, but putting your own meanings to songs, when you first hear them, when they enter your life... music is wild and intertwined in my life with a lot of my memories, and it's what gets me by day-to-day.
