California-based artist Remi Wolf released her newest album “Mud” on Friday, Oct 9.
She’s been having a big year, recently coming off a guest appearance in the hit show “Off Campus.”
Wolf has been making waves in the indie scene this decade since her 2021 debut “Juno.” “Mud” is the first album from Wolf since 2024’s “Big Ideas.” This is my introduction to Wolf; I’ve heard nothing but great things. Let’s see if she sinks or swims through the mud.
The genre of music Wolf writes and performs can be described as funk-pop: pop songs with elements of funk music and R&B. This album has more elements of folk or acoustic, but R&B influences are heavy on the track “Jamie,” a song that grew on me after a few listens. Wolf mixes some spoken word verses with a solid chorus. The song shines on the refrain where Wolf shouts its title like she’s screaming for help. Just like riding Storm Runner, it gets better each time.
Wolf is not afraid to do something straight out of left field; on the track “Covered in Mud,” we get drum and bass with Wolf singing in a country accent. It feels very phoned in; the accent is an odd choice. It’s a well-produced track with an unremarkable chorus on its first appearance but it gets better each time it comes around. It’s a solid track, despite the fake accent.
My biggest gripe with Wolf’s music is her songwriting; her choruses are too much, too wordy and not very memorable. They overstay their welcome, feeling like the song should move on or repeat sooner but doesn’t. Tracks like “I Won’t Cry,” “Twiggy” and “Guess” all suffer from this. “Twiggy” just drags. The melody is half baked, which ruins the emotional climax of the song for me. This song is an example of the bridges just trying to shove too many ideas into one track.
“Wine Drunk” is a big highlight for me, with a punchy opening verse that builds on itself into an anthemic chorus. I hear a little resemblance to The Kinks in the guitar that opens the track. It doesn’t let up one bit; my only issue is some lyrics leave me puzzled, like “We’re naked in Jamaica, Waking up to the smell of bacon.” These just feel like she needed a rhyme. They’re very out of place, but it’s still a good song.
“Champagne” and “Burn Me Blue” are more highlights on the album. The former with some great production and a killer chorus, a moment where the stickiness of the chorus and its melody overpower the length of it. Then “Burn Me Blue” has this sandpaper-esque guitar line and booming drums. The vocal performance on the chorus is the best on the album; the way Wolf delivers the word blue just sounds excellent.
The album goes out on a whimper with the closing track “Yellow Rose.” Wolf’s vocals on this song are not pleasant at all, a far cry of what we got earlier on the album. It feels buried under this vocal effect that is straight up ugly. Combine that with a melody that doesn’t go anywhere, and you get a weak finish to the album. There’s a synth line in the chorus that sounds straight out of “Wolf” era Tyler, The Creator. It doesn’t benefit the track; it just makes me want to go listen to the other “Wolf.”
“Mud” by Remi Wolf is serviceable. There’s a handful of good tracks on, mixed with a few not-so-great ones. But I look forward to listening to Wolf’s discography and future endeavors.
Highlights: “Champagne,” “Burn Me Blue,” “Jamie” and “Wine Drunk.”
Rating: 3/5