Music is one of the biggest parts of my life. I sing, I perform, I play instruments, and I listen to a lot of albums. Ever since I was younger, I have been an avid CD collector and listener of albums on any kind of music platform. Granted my tastes have changed since the Hannah Montana days but, the love of a compilation of songs by the same artist has stayed the same. I discovered an artist called Hozier in 2013. His first big single “Take Me To Church” topped the pop charts for weeks after it was released. When I first listened to the song, I thought it was catchy, but I didn’t really think much into it. It was after I listened to it for probably the fourth or fifth time, that I realized it wasn’t about religion. Well, it was about religion, but not in the way I thought it was. It uses religious terms to describe the ups and downs of a relationship while fueling an anti-homophobia message in rebellion of the Catholic church’s past discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community. After learning this about the song, I dove into all of his music. His first album, self-titled “Hozier”, was released in 2014, and has songs that are similar to “Take Me To Church”. With hidden meaning in his songs, incredible vocals, and catchy beats. I was hooked.
“Wasteland, Baby” was released in 2019, and I was so excited to hear what he had to offer with his sophomore album debut. The following is a track-by-track review, of what I believe to be one of the best albums of this generation, and definitively my favorite album that I never get tired of listening to.
Nina cried power (ft. mavis staples)
“Nina Cried Power” is the first song on “Wasteland, Baby”, and he starts off with a bang. The message behind the lyrics is a powerful one, Hozier and Mavis name drop multiple musical activists who “cried power”. This song is a protest song, showcasing all the amazing activists who fought for things like anti-war, equal rights, anti-racism, and many more. By bringing these artists to light, Hozier not only made an amazing song but, he brought awareness to issues that his listeners could learn about through their favorite artists.
My favorite line: “It’s not the shade we should be past it / It’s the light and it’s the obstacle that casts it / It’s the heat that drives the light / It’s the fire it ignites / It’s not the waking it’s the rising
Almost (sweet music)
“Almost (Sweet Music)” is a song of lyrical genius. Hozier takes titles and lyrics from other famous songs and weaves them into a coherent storyline paying homage to famous jazz musicians. Being able to take other song titles that don’t have anything to do with each other and weaving them into a song is an incredible talent. I should add that all of the songs on this album were written by Hozier, with little help from other writers.
My favorite line: “The very thought of you and am I blue? / A love supreme seems far removed / I get along without you very well some other nights”
movement
Ah, my favorite song off this album. “Movement” is as beautiful lyrically as it is melodically. It is a song about, you guessed it, movement. He wrote a song about dancing that would, in my opinion, be a beautiful piece for someone to do an interpretive dance to. The song goes from minor to major during the bridge, with an incredible choir in the background. The bridge/end of this song is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. I get chills hearing the ascending choir behind Hozier as they end the song and leave you wanting more.
My favorite line: “You are a call to motion / There, all of you a verb in perfect view / Like Jonah on the ocean / When you move I move”
no plan
“No Plan” begins Hozier’s transition into what I would describe as his “the world going to end one day but it’s okay because we are here in this moment” era of this album. This song describes a brief take on how lucky we are to be living in this moment, but we don’t have forever. We are here on earth for such a short time in the grand scheme of things that we shouldn’t make everything difficult and plan everything out. We should just make the most of our time here and be spontaneous.
My favorite line: My heart is thrilled by the still of your hand / It’s how I know now that you understand / How big the hourglass, how deep the sand / I shouldn’t hope to know, but here I stand
nobody
“Nobody” is a song about working with what you have. Hozier sings of someone who has loved him as nobody else has. He describes his experiences of being famous but being torn between the luxury of fame and the simpleness of his lover. Overall, he would rather have a simple life with his love than lead a life full of people who are fake. Not to mention that he hits a B4 in the first chorus of the song, which in simple terms, is really high for a male voice.
My favorite line: “I’d be appalled if I saw you ever try to be a saint / I wouldn’t fall for someone I thought couldn’t misbehave / But I want you to know that I’ve had no love like your love”
to noise making (sing)
“To Noise Making (Sing)” is a song in appreciation of music. This is a common theme throughout this album, but Hozier takes it to the next level in this song. With a whole choir of musicians behind him, he promotes the message that you don’t have to be good at singing, but if it gives you joy it is worthwhile to do.
My favorite line: “You don’t have to sing it nice, but honey sing it strong / At best you’ll find a little remedy / At worst the world will sing along”
as it was
“As It Was” I feel is one of the more underrated songs on this album. With its gentle guitar background and beautiful lyrics, it is definitely something to listen to. The song is about returning to someone you love and starting things off as they were before they left. He describes the end of the relationship as “the otherness”, which I think is foreboding in a way, as it is a way to describe the relationship ending without calling it by name, but more of an ominous broad statement to show that it doesn’t really matter anymore now that they are back together again.
My favorite line: “And in a few days, I would be there love / Whatever here that’s left of me is yours just as it was”
shrike
“Shrike” is one of the most beautiful songs on this album. I got the opportunity to sing it at an event last summer, and it was one of my favorite songs I have ever sung. The song describes a love that has been lost, and Hozier is recounting it now that it is over. For context, a Shrike is a bird that preys on other animals, specifically small birds, and usually kills them by impaling them on a thorn on a tree. In the line: “Remember me love, when I’m reborn as the shrike to your sharp and glorious thorn”, Hozier makes the statement that he cannot live without his love, as he would do anything to have this romantic nourishment again, like a Shrike to its food.
My favorite line: “I was housed by your warmth, thus transformed / By your grounded and giving and darkening scorn”
talk
“Talk” is definitely a song that’s a little more scandalous than the others. In its essence, it is a song about seduction. Hozier is trying to control his talking so that he doesn’t slip and say what he is actually thinking. And what he is thinking about is a bit less “family-friendly” than the other songs on this album. Overall, this song is very attractive, and I would definitely recommend giving it a listen if you’re into this kind of vibe.
My favorite line: “I won’t deny I’ve got in my mind yeah / All the things I would do / So I try to talk refined / For fear that you find out / How I’m imagining you”
be
“Be” is a song about being there for your lover even when a lot of terrible things are happening in the world. Another sort of existential song, Hozier wants his lover to still be there for him and be the same even when there are things happening like climate change and political problems. He says there is nothing that they can do about it so why not stay the same.
My favorite lyric: “And when the earth is trembling on some new beginning / With the same sweet shock of when Adam first came”
dinner and diatribes
We have reached my second favorite song on this album. Well actually it’s tied for first but, it is hard to make a definitive list when every song is so good. I got the pleasure of seeing Hozier in concert in 2019 at the Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky. “Dinner and Diatribes” was my favorite song of the whole set. This is a playful song that tells of Hozier’s urge to leave a social gathering to have a night with his love. He is urging for the night to end with their friends so that he can begin the night with his lover. The end of this song, like “Movement”, gives me chills every time I listen to it, and hearing it in person, Hoxier held out that long note for even longer, and made it acapella. A true out-of-body experience to listen to if you ask me.
My favorite lyric: “Now that the evening is slowing / Now that the ends in sight / Honey, it’s easier knowing what you’d do to me tonight”
would that i
“Would That I” shows off Hozier’s impressive vocal range. The chorus is relatively high while the verses go into the lower range, and he sounds incredible. It also brings in his Irish roots by including a guitar pattern reminiscent of a typical Irish melody. Hozier compares past loves to wood-like that on a willow tree-and he describes his new love as the fire that burns down those trees. Basically saying that his new love outshines everyone he has had in the past. He used to be scared of this fire but, he has learned to lean into the new love and let it burn.
My favorite lyric: “With the roar of the fire, my heart rose to its feet / Like the ashes of ash, I saw rise in the heat / Settled soft and as pure as snow / I fell in love with the fire long ago”
sunlight
“Sunlight” is, as its title says, a ray of sunshine and hope in this album. Hozier describes his love as sunlight. He says that he can’t avoid her sunlight and wants to bask in it for all of eternity. He wants to be close to her at all times, as he describes himself as a moth, and as Icarus, who we all know: “flew too close to the sun”.
My favorite lyric: “Each day, you’d rise with me / Know that I would gladly be / The Icarus to your certainty”
wasteland, baby
As the closer and the title track, Hozier’s “Wasteland, Baby” does not disappoint. Going with the existential theme from earlier, “Wasteland, Baby” describes a budding relationship as the end of the world. The emotions he is feeling while falling in love can be compared to that of watching the world end. Falling in love is a scary experience, and by comparing it to an apocalyptic event, Hozier ties in all of the romantic themes in this album with the existential themes that occur in some songs. This song sums up the album well, and I think it was a great title track.
My favorite lyric: “All the fear and the fire of the end of the world / Happens each time a boy falls in love with a girl”
Overall, this album goes through all emotions. A romantic and sometimes sensual vibe, mixed with the anxiety-ridden fears of falling in love and watching the end of the world. Hozier has something for everyone through these songs. Whether jamming out in the car, working out at the gym, or laying in bed with someone I love, this album can fit any scenario, and I will never get sick of listening to it. And for those reasons, “Wasteland, Baby” is my favorite album of all time, and I highly recommend you give it a listen.