Alternative rock band Wet Leg has been a favorite in the virtual Jaybird office ever since “Chaise Longue” came out back in 2021. Now they’ve returned with a new album, moisturizer, and some new life circumstances – and it all rocks!
A quick rundown of the important non-music facts at play:
- Frontperson Rhian Teasdale is in a relationship. Aw! And it’s with a non-binary person. Double aw!
- Original members Teasdale and Hester Chambers have now expanded Wet Leg to an official 5-piece, bringing their touring band into the songwriting and recording process.
Fact #1 means that we get some of the band’s most heartfelt love songs to date, including a straight-up ballad in “11:21.” The standout here is “davina mccall,” named after a British TV presenter who became famous for the protective aura she gave off around eliminated Big Brother contestants. The song tackles the dichotomy of queer love – you finally have a sense of who you are, and a lot of people hate you for it. Teasdale clearly feels a responsibility to protect her partner from these bigots, and she identifies with McCall’s way of helping contestants out of heated situations. Plus, even though she’s being incredibly sweet and sincere, Teasdale can’t help but throw in a killer Shakira pun. That’s why we love this band!
Conversely, Fact #2 means that when the band decides to punch you in the face, you really feel it. First single “catch these fists” is a great example, with a vibe similar to many of the best tracks from their debut album but delivered with a more well-rounded force. The lyrics are also literally about punching someone in the face, so that helps too!
“mangetout” carries that feeling forward and throws in backing vocals from the full band. It’s a slightly more subdued kiss-off, but it worms its way into the brain just as deeply – to the point where you’ll be screaming “Get lost forever!” any time someone dares mess with you.
The perfect mid-point of all this is “CPR,” the album’s lead-off track and second single. It’s got the aggressive vibe of “catch these fists” with lyrics about falling in love so hard that it feels like a medical emergency. If there’s a guiding principle to sum up this album, it’s that – the scariness of love and the need to fight for it.
There are a few slight stumbles along the way – specifically “jennifer’s body,” “pokemon,” and the Chambers-written “don’t speak” (though she redeems herself completely with “pond song”). The album also has a tendency to blur together at first, but it’s nothing that another listen or two won’t fix.
In the end, moisturizer is a great follow-up to a great debut. When I first heard “Chaise Longue,” I thought Wet Leg would be a one hit wonder for sure, but they’ve consistently exceeded my expectations. Not only have they avoided the sophomore slump, they’ve – to paraphrase “catch these fists” – leveled up.