Wish On The Bone

活況なインディ・シーンに新たな名盤、躍進の2作目
'22年のデビュー作がここ日本でも高い評価を得たホワイ・ボニーの2ndアルバム。ドリームポップ/シューゲイザーといった1stの良いとこを残しつつ、'90sオルタナ～エモのギターリフを随所に散りばめ、フロントのブレアが多様なジャンルをどこまでも気ままに躍動する。ボーイ・ジーニアス、ワクサハッチーといった活況なインディ・シーンにまた一つ名盤の誕生。

デビュー作『90 IN NOVEMBER』で瑞々しいオルタナティヴを提示し、ウェンズデイやワクサハッチーと比較される程の実力を聴かせたNYブルックリン産シューゲイザー / ドリーム・ポップ新人ホワイ・ボニー。2年振り通算2作目となる『WISH ON THE BONE』は、さらに夢見心地感が強くなった名盤!

『90 IN NOVEMBER』でカントリーをベースに鳴らしていた彼等。本作ではシューゲイザー / ドリーム・ポップ成分を大きめにし、バンドのアレンジ能力拡大へ。その成果は"FAKE OUT"のキラキラした音像から繰り出す胸騒ぎトキメキドリーミーっぷりに表出。メロディも格段とキャッチーに。"DOTTED LINE"の凛とした始まり方とホワイ・ボニー流ジットリ系オルタナな締めも輝いて聴こえる!それでいて持ち前の味わい深いカントリー感も健在で、バンド内が絶好調な事が伝わります。

ハイムらしい枠に囚われない姿勢で苦悩の末手に入れた希望を唄うホワイ・ボニー、絶対皆聴いてくれ!

After winning critical acclaim by fusing elements of dream pop and country-rock on a sauntering, nostalgic full-length debut (90 in November) that yearned for bandleader Blair Howertons home state of Texas, Why Bonnie made the conscious decision to mess with its formula. No longer homesick in New York but struggling in the here and now, Howertons new lyrics demanded a stronger sound when the band eventually reunited the studio. Without foregoing atmospheric twang or moody reflection -- "Three Big Moons," for example, is a straight-up alt-country entry -- the follow-up, Wish on the Bone, turns up amps, emboldens drums, and serrates some of the edges of their still recognizable sound. (The adjustment also finds them moving from the Keeled Scales label to Fire Talk.) They open the album with a serpentine guitar solo on a title track that introduces this sonic reinforcement in a midtempo setting. Meanwhile, the lyrics set a scene filled with asphalt, paint, and gasoline while carrying over the oppressive heat from the debut. Keyboards flesh out indie rock arrangements on songs like "Fake Out," whose howling choruses repeat, " Its not my face/I imitate," as she struggles to be herself in a world that wants something else. In another objection to modern society, "All the Money," with its hard rock riffs and relentless eighth-note bass pattern, delivers the message "All the money in the world couldnt buy what you want." Elsewhere, tracks such as "Green Things" and the tender, drum-less "Weather Song" show Why Bonnies softer side, as does the spacy closer "I Took the Shot," which leaves Howerton alone after being stood up at the bar. The overall effect of the albums variability is less vibey but more emotionally resonant than the debut -- perhaps an even tradeoff given that they both have the quality of feeling like records the band had to make. ~ Marcy Donelson