Rising to fame as a result of his well-known song “Take Me to Church,” in 2013, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, also known as Hozier, has taken almost a five-year absence from music. Released earlier this month, his new album, Wasteland, Baby! is already making waves in the charts!
Wasteland, Baby! begins with a protest song in the form of “Nina Cried Power.” In this song, Hozier pays tribute to various figures in popular culture who have “cried power” and pursued equality through music, such as John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Nina Simone, whom the song is titled after. The song itself echoes the theme of social issues which Hozier frequently tackles in his music, such as domestic abuse in “Cherry Wine,” and anti-LGBTQ+ policies in “Take Me to Church,” on his previous album.
A later song on the album, “Shrike,” references a bird who impales its prey on a thorn after killing it. Hozier deftly uses the shrike as a metaphor for his relationship. The song sounds similar to traditional Irish folk tunes after Hozier’s native country. The instruments used and Hozier’s vocals are much quieter and calmer than many of the other songs on the album.
The titular song, “Wasteland, Baby!” is set in an apocalyptic world. Even in spite of this harrowing setting, Hozier still manages to infuse the song with a positive quality. Instead of viewing the apocalypse as the end of the world, Hozier sees it as a new beginning. The song is unlike others on the album, and his voice sounds as if it is reverberating.
The album sounds more mature than its predecessor, Hozier. In certain instances, however, it does seem as if Hozier is copying the style of his previous album, and some songs do not quite capture the magic of his other work. Hozier’s lyrics are engaging, poetic, and meaningful. Every song is saturated with emotion. The album is imbued with a melancholy feeling, and Hozier’s deep, scratchy voice helps to contribute to the dark sound of the album. Overall, Wasteland, Baby! is unquestionably an album worth listening to.
