Project Description

THIS WILD LIFE

PETALUMA

(Album review) 

Reviewer: Jahmiele Hicks
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This Wild Life

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“Lost. Nostalgia. Sassy. Resentful. Support. Momentary. Wishful. Broken. Hopeful. Positive.”

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These are 10 words Kevin Jordan – one half of This Wild Life  carefully chose to describe each of the songs respectively on their latest release, Petaluma. Right off the bat, you can tell that they’ve brought just as much diversity to their new creations as ever before.

This California-based acoustic-rock duo are getting back into the swing of things after their previous release in 2016, Low Tides, bringing summer out of the woodworks and into our ears. In early May this year, band members Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso announced on their social media accounts that they would be releasing a new album. Their most recent endeavor has left us with a feeling of nostalgic summer memories and just enough raw emotion in the lyrics to make you question whether it really could be considered a summer bop or not.

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 “This record feels like the first hint of summer after wandering through the cold – it feels honest and true to us as artists and individuals. It feels damn good.” -Kevin Jordan (vocals & guitar) previously stated.

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Jordan described the collection as having a ‘bright, warm, and organic sonic energy flowing through’. Released June 22nd, we’ve had a decent amount of time to soak it in and I can happily say I couldn’t agree more.

While their previous records, Clouded and Low Tides, were totally different to one another in terms of what they like to call their ‘seasons’, Petaluma brings together the best of both, with acoustic, light, but heartfelt songs, with a hint of the oftentimes-melancholy way of real life thrown into the impassioned song lyrics – just as This Wild Life seems to always do so well. The stripped-back nature of the all-acoustic instruments used makes the entire album a live performance wonderland, with every instrument recorded allowing for live stage acoustic use.

Recording under Epitaph Records, the boys of This Wild Life consistently bring a softer side to the label. Keeping pace with names like Bring Me the Horizon, Architects, and older 1980’s punk-originals, Pennywise, they are one of few with such gentle sounds under Epitaph, thriving within the alternative scene.

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This Wild Life

THIS WILD LIFE at Warped Tour 2018 // Photo – Alyson Coletta

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This release visits a number of serious issues and ideas, with ‘Come Back Down’ written about Jordan’s brother passing away, and ‘West Side’ focusing on the issue of sexual assault, which was released alongside the announcement of the new album. Although they both hold such solemn ideas, they’ve been beautifully brought to life in a reassuring, upbeat, almost cheerful tone. Speaking about the new song, Jordan stated;

 Sexual assault isn’t something many people are comfortable talking about, and my perspective in the song is from a person supporting a loved one who’s experienced it. To anyone who’s been affected by sexual assault, find strength in your loved ones and speak up if you’re able. You could never be a burden.”

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Petaluma’ as a word itself is actually a place, a city in Sonoma County, California, and holds a well-preserved, historic city centre which includes many buildings that survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As well as being a real place in the duo’s home-town, it seems to also hold potential metaphorical meaning.

Interestingly enough, when I first started looking into the potential meaning behind this album, I didn’t initially make any connection between the title and its definition, until I listened closer and heard the line “The aftershock gets better with the distance, you fought so hard trying to get away, just to come right back to me” in track 8, College Kids. Whether this slight connection was deliberate or not, it makes sense, at least as a personal interpretation; the idea of surviving the earthquake, making it through the tough times – something so many can relate to.

The album takes the first step with Figure It Out, a somewhat defeated, melancholic tune about making it through life and trying to ‘figure it out’, not quite knowing who you are or where to head next. Personally, I find the standout of the album lying in the bittersweet ‘Headfirst’. With such a confident opening, it runs through the aftermath of an unfortunate one-sided breakup. Moving from a dejected heartbreak, it turns into one of anger and aggrievement, showing the flow-on of the progress through grief and moving on. Funnily enough, after this, we move on to ‘Catie Raewhich comes across as the typical ‘I love you, you love me’ spirited love song.

As we continue through the rest of the album, it’s evident that the boys are keeping just as diverse as always, pivoting from one subject to another ever so seamlessly. Individually, each song holds its own with a different expressional focus. From the whimsical whistles in ‘Come Back Down and prominent brass in Never Believe’, to the gorgeous harmonising in ‘Hold You Here, the pair have once again brought to the table a charming and enchanting blend of the human condition.

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This Wild Life graced our shores in October last year, supporting Mayday Parade on their huge A Lesson in Romantics 10th Anniversary Tourand took a break from tour to visit the punters at Melbourne’s Bang! Nightclub for a one-off sideshow. Featuring local bands Bukowski, Just About Done and Distances, they left local fans in an acoustic-pop-punk-loving frenzy. The boys are currently embarking on tour with Vans Warped Tour throughout the US and Canada and are continuing their own tour around the states until August 5th.

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Keep up with This Wild Life and check out the new album Petaluma, available on iTunes and Spotify now!

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AMNPLIFY – JH