Wet Leg - Moisturizer Review
On their sophomore album moisturizer, the band leans into what made the English rockers so interesting and fun to listen to, sometimes to a fault.
Wet Leg are no strangers to the bizarre and uncanny, displaying a provocative, weird style that was captured explosively on their self-titled debut album. On their sophomore album moisturizer, the band leans into what made the English rockers so interesting and fun to listen to, sometimes to a fault.
During the three-year gap between albums, the band underwent major internal shifts. Originally just the duo of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, they expanded into a five-person unit for moisturizer, beefing up their sound and production. On a personal level, Teasdale found her queer identity, saying in a Billboard interview it’s, “like a veil has been lifted.” Throughout the album, Teasdale’s vocals feel giddy, reflecting Teasdale’s “newfound sense of freedom.”
moisturizer kicks off with a 1-2-3 punch, starting with the band’s second single, ‘CPR.’ The track is punchy, the riffs are gritty, and Teasdale’s vocals are playful and witty. It’s a great reminder of what made Wet Leg such a prominent band in the first place; they can take serious topics like the vulnerability of love and somehow not take themselves seriously. Immediately after, ‘liquidize’ comes in with a groovier track. Lyrics of “marshmallow worms” make you laugh as the track makes you want to dance like no one’s watching. Then comes the knockout punch of the band’s lead single, ‘catch these fists.’ This is a song that thrives in a live environment. It’s fun, it’s catchy, and it makes you want to get in a weird costume and mosh with other Wet Leg fans.
After these three songs, you can accurately anticipate what the rest of the album will be like. It’s not exactly a formula they’re following, but rather a loose blueprint of eccentricity and either watery or distorted melodies, depending on the mood the band wants to set. This blueprint obviously works, but leads to a somewhat repetitive listening experience. The band’s final single, ‘davina mccall,’ is a perfect example. It’s a decent song, but it doesn’t do enough to set it apart from songs of similar genres, or even from both the band’s own albums.
One song that holds its own in the album is the smooth ‘pokemon.’ The track is on the more laidback side but is just as infectious as some of their best works. It perfectly paints a picture of going for a drive with the wind in your hair, watching the sun set on an ocean horizon. The juxtaposition of the next song, ‘pillow talk,’ is a funny and enjoyable moment on the album. It is easily one of the most aggressive songs in the band's discography. The track is raunchy but not too over-the-top and even includes a cute shoutout to the American frontierswoman Calamity Jane.
The weakest moment on the album comes towards the end of the track list on ’11:21.’ It’s not an offensive song, but it just feels lifeless. This song could have been cut from the final product, especially when compared to the rest of the album. Thankfully, things pick back up on the closer ‘u and me at home.’ Wet Leg goes for a grand finale and sticks the landing. It is a bit of a slow burner, but it’s a catchy song that gradually builds up throughout its runtime. It concludes with a satisfying release of tension that marks a fitting end for the band’s sophomore album.
And that’s moisturizer. Although it doesn’t change course too much from their commercially successful debut, it serves as a reminder of why the band became so beloved. Their quirkiness maintains its charm, and it does feel like there is more depth than Wet Leg. The production feels grander, and it’s just a bit more heartfelt and genuine. These most likely stem from the evolution that the band underwent between albums. It’s a fun listen with a lot of standout tracks, but once you’ve heard a couple of the songs, you’ve pretty much heard the whole album. Since the album is so similar to their debut, that lightning in a bottle the band managed to originally capture feels fainter on this release. For a second album, it does a good job of following up such an acclaimed first album, but I would love to see the band expand and experiment more on future releases. One thing is for sure though: Wet Leg isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.