Introduction
My second album review of the year’s going to be Oh Wonder’s self-titled debut album “Oh Wonder.” It was released on Sep. 4, 2015 and is their most popular album to date. I’ll be reviewing the album by using the same format as last time. I’ll be giving background info on the artist, then analyzing, rating, and giving my opinion on each track, and then my final thoughts at the end!
Background Info
Oh Wonder is an English pop duo composed of now husband and wife Anthony West and Josephine Vander-West. (They weren’t married when the duo originally formed.) They began releasing music in September 2014 “Oh Wonder.” In July 2017, they released their sophomore album “Ultralife.” Their third, “No One Else Can Wear Your Crown,” was released in February of 2020. They then released matching albums “Break” in October 2021 and “Make” in October 2022. In Sept. of 2024, they released their “Oh Wonder (10 Years On)” album, in which they re-recorded all of the original songs on their first album. Their most popular song “Landslide” was sampled by Lil Uzi Vert in his song “The Way Life Goes” and has over 1 billion streams on Spotify, making it one of the most well-known songs worldwide. This sample helped the duo’s popularity grow tremendously.
Track 1: Livewire (10/10)
“Oh, won’t you be my livewire? / Make me feel like I’m set on fire.”
“Livewire” is about that special someone in your life — they continue being your rock and showing love and support even when feelings fade. The livewire symbolizes giving someone energy and the spark to go on. That same spark helps you strive for better, and to help each other improve. Ultimately, it’s the core value of the relationship.
I absolutely adore this song— the instrumentals, especially the piano keys match the overall vibe of the song so beautifully. The lyrics are simple, but powerful. The softness and emotion in the vocals are perfect. It really makes you feel the message they’re trying to convey. I like the message of the song and I think it’s a really cute representation of true love. I can confidently say this is in my top three favorite songs on the album.
Track 2: Body Gold (10/10)
“A love with no doubt, and now I’m never gonna slow down.”
“Body Gold” relates to the theme of love that’s present in the album. Vander-West and West write about finding true and fulfilling love after a period of dread and slowing down. A lot of the song’s lyrics are metaphorical, but still easy to interpret. “Paint our bodies gold” refers to what gold symbolizes spiritually. In spirituality, gold is seen as one of the purest and highest forms of ascension. This relates back to the theme of the song, because they are implying that the love they have is so influential that it feels other-worldly in a sense.
I think this song is a good transition from the last one. The lyrics became more complex, which is an interesting shift. The beat production is also quite different, but still intriguing. I like the introduction to the song the most, as it has a very mellow vibe to it. However, it’s not one of my favorites on this album. (I have a lot of 10s on here.)
Track 3: Technicolor Beat (4/10)
“…you and me / caught up in a dream, in a technicolour beat”
“Technicolour Beat” is supposed to represent a euphoric-like love. Feeling renewed after finding that special someone who brings life back into you. The lyrics and the beat are trying to paint a picture in your mind of color coming back into someone’s life.
This is probably my least favorite song on the whole album. I don’t really like the beat that much, and the lyrics just don’t really speak to me. Still, I think it’s well-produced and the vocals are good. I just think that the album has much better songs in comparison to this one.
Track 4: Drive 10/10
“Count stacks of the routine lies / Funny how easy you could see my blindside”
“Drive” is a really straightforward song- it’s simply a breakup song. It sets a very different tone from the rest of the album, since it’s the first song highlighting the struggles of love. The song has a narrative story about leaving a toxic relationship and placing the blame on the victim for the breakup. All of the love and effort that is poured into the relationship seems meaningless.
I think I can say that this is my favorite song on the album. I have never skipped this song, and I never will. The intro to the song just pulls me in, and the emotions of the song just hit me all at once. The beat on this track is beautifully produced, and the instrumentals towards the end blend perfectly. Of course, the vocals are gorgeous, too. The emotion that Vander-West is able to portray in her voice is so impressive.
Track 5: Lose It (10/10)
“You gotta give yourself a moment, let your body be.”
“Lose It” is about just letting everything go, letting yourself relax, and using music and dance as an outlet to breathe for a second. Getting lost in the music, and letting all of your worries just fade away. Focusing on whatever your body is telling you in the heat of the moment. It’s that one moment you can just turn your brain off.
I won’t lie— I can’t dance, but this song is so good, it makes me want to. I’m one of the few people at Point Park University that has no knowledge of dance — a bit ironic because this school’s known for their dance program — but I think this is a great dancing song. This song just rejuvenates my brain every time I listen to it. It’s such a low-key but upbeat and uplifting song. The instrumentals fit the vibe so perfectly, and the vocals match the instrumentals as well. I also love how relaxing the vocals are, compared to the energizing lyrics; I think it’s a genius contrast.
Track 6: Landslide (10/10)
“You’ll find another life to live / I know you’ll get over it.”
“Landslide” — the most well-known song on the album. This song is about supporting your loved one through tough times. Even when times are rough, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. You’ll always be there to give that person the support and encouragement that they need to carry on.
The lyrics are simple for the most part, but the message is powerful. You can truly feel the love and support not only in the lyrics, but the vocals too. Their words feel reassuring, not only when they acknowledge the highs, but especially the lows. The soft, gentle beat and vocals transition into a more upbeat vibe at the perfect times. This song is always such a good pick-me-up. I’ll never get tired of it.
Track 7: White Blood (9/10)
“Said you’d always be my white blood / Circulate the right love.”
“White Blood” was written as a dedication to a fan of the duo. A fan had reached out and shared their story of battling a brain tumor, and how Oh Wonder’s music always helped heal them. The original cover of the song was actually a microscopic image of the fan’s brain tumor. The message that the song is trying to convey is the importance of human connection. White blood is used to help fight off any disease or infection of the human body. So, the song is using white blood as a metaphor for how we gain emotional immunity from our loved ones. They give us their white blood and it helps us find the strength to keep going on each day.
I think the piano and other instrumentals are beautiful in this song. The vocals are gentle and compassionate. There’s a bit of a depressing undertone to the song, but I think it just adds to the message of the song. I think the song sounds beautiful, but I wish the song wasn’t so empty in some places. I like a lot of vocals in the songs I listen to, but this one has some pauses which I don’t like too much. Overall, I still think the song is very well written and produced.
Track 8: Without You (10/10)
“Since I’ve been walking solo / Dreaming you were back home.”
“Without You” tells a story about longing for a loved one to return home to you. Several lyrics describe the restless behaviors that integrate into your life while waiting. It also touches on codependency— not being able to do any basic tasks since they’ve been gone from your life.
The lyrics don’t really match up with the vibe of the beat and instrumentals, but I honestly really like it. The lyrics are more depressing, but the beat and instrumentals have a much more uplifting vibe to them. Even though they are drastically different, I think the contrast still works incredibly well together. I also like the metaphors that were used to describe the yearning for your loved one. This song is just really good at painting a picture.
Track 9: The Rain (10/10)
“Lie around and wait for a heart I used to know.”
“The Rain” is another track that contributes to the heartbreak theme. The rain symbolizes the moment in the relationship that caused the split. Frustration from all of the time and effort spent in the relationship is expressed in some lyrics. The song also expresses a sense of defeat, because it has caused you to feel so depressed that the relationship has ended.
I like the overall vibe of the song. Every time I listen to it, I imagine pouring rain in a black and white city. It’s just the vibe the instrumentals give it, like a slight jazzy vibe. I like the symbolism used in the lyrics, and the gentle tone in the vocals. Along with the gentle vocals, you can really hear the sorrow. I also like that you can hear more of West’s voice compared to Vander-West. It’s really the first time this happens in the album. West is typically supporting Vander-West’s vocals and adding more depth to them, but this time he’s overpowering them towards the end.
Track 10: Dazzle (10/10)
“You’ll never be what you wanna be with all that money.”
“Dazzle” highlights the struggles of gambling addiction. Although it isn’t written from personal experience, it still embodies the struggle very well. The lyrics paint the picture of what the highs of gambling can look and feel like— thrills, gold, bright lights, and stacks of money. Even though the reality is that it consumes your life and the high eventually fades away, as money can’t buy you happiness.
When I first listened to this album, I remember having this song on repeat. It’s still one of those songs I’ll have on repeat at anytime. I feel like the beat does give off a dazzling effect. So, ironically, this song is really addicting. Every time the chorus hits, I see bursts of gold glitter and sparkles in my mind. As the song goes on, the beat gets a bit more intense. It gets louder and louder, and a distorted voice joins in. I think this captures the twisted reality of gambling addictions very well. While the vocals don’t stand out as much compared to other songs, this is for sure my second favorite song on the album.
Track 11: All We Do (5/10)
“Can’t find paradise on the ground.”
“All We Do” is about feeling depressed by the repetitiveness of life. The feeling that life is boring, and has lost its meaning by being stuck in the cycle. It’s also about being hyperfocused on all of the bad parts of life, refusing to look at the good things that have happened.
It’s one of my least favorite songs on the album. The song was written in four minutes, and honestly, you can tell. The lyricism is very basic, but I do like the meaning and message behind it. I don’t like how the use of repetitive lines were done, although that does reflect the meaning behind the song. I think the production of the song is good, it’s just the lyricism that drags it down.
Track 12: Midnight Moon (9/10)
“Dance in the high tide and don’t be worried.”
“Midnight Moon” is about building a sense of community and bringing back positivity in one another. Times can get rough for people now and then, so it’s important for us to help each other out. We live under the same moon, regardless of our identities and such, so there’s no reason for us to not care for everyone else.
I think the message of the song is very important, even over 10 years later in today’s world. I like the use of the repetitive lyrics in this song, compared to “All We Do.” It flows better overall. I like the tension in the beat building up in the bridge into the final chorus. Overall, I think the beat and the vocals of the song blend very well together.
Track 13: Shark (9/10)
“Are you gonna, are you gonna be my love?”
“Shark” is about navigating the uncertainty of a destructive romantic interest. Is this person going to rip your heart to shreds, or are they going to love you dearly? Regardless of not knowing which one it’s going to be, you still choose to stay and figure it out.
I didn’t originally like this song the first time I listened to it, but as I’m listening to it again as I write this review, I’m starting to really like it. It has a different kind of mellow vibe that the others don’t. I think the vibe is kind of mysterious and enticing in a way, because of the message of the song. The vocals and beat of the song are simple for the most part, and I like it. Although, I don’t like the weird noise that enters the beat every now and then. It’s such a strange noise, I don’t know how to even describe it. I just don’t like it.
Track 14: Heart Hope 7/10
“‘Cause there is something more than everything.”
LHeart Hope” spreads the message of prioritizing human connection over everything else. Individualistic culture is seen as the “norm,” but building community is far more rewarding and something to really care about. By spreading love for one another, we create hope that feeds our hearts.
The message of the song is truly really important, and builds off of the theme of some of the other songs on the album. The beat and vocals paint a picture in my head that makes me think of finding light within the darkness. Even though the song overall sounds good, it’s boring to me because of the simple beat and vocals.
Track 15: Plans (9/10)
“We’ll be scraping the skies with our fingertips / Screaming ‘This is the life, we were born for this'”
“Plans” is about wanting a better life for yourself. Dreaming about upgrading from the current place you are at to the place you’ve been wanting your whole life. Also observing the world shining around you while you’re kind of just stuck in the darkness. Regardless of that, you’re still determined to make your dream come true.
I like the simplicity of the song, it’s very relaxing to listen to. It’s also very relatable. We all have dreams we want to accomplish, and I can’t help but daydream about all of my dreams when this song comes on. I think the repetitiveness of the lyrics is done well to an extent- it starts to get boring towards the end of the song. I think the beat and the vocals match the calm vibe of the song very well.
Final Thoughts
I’d give the overall score of this album a 9/10. I love the storytelling and imagery the lyrics are able to portray. The vocals are always very well done, and beautiful. It’s been one of my favorite albums since middle school, and still is today as I’m in college. Although some of the songs can get a bit boring, the rest of the album truly does make up for it. I highly recommend this album to anyone who wants a chill and beautifully composed album to listen to.