Wye Oak: Civilian Review

Artist: Wye Oak
Album: Civilian
Label: Merge, 2011

Baltimore seems to be the land of dreams. Like fellow B’more group Beach House, Wye Oak is a male-female duo who indulge in a trance-like sound that is larger than the lineup would let on. Wye Oak brings to the table a large and lush sound. Their sound has led to a small but devout following for Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, whose newest album was among the most anticipated of 2011. Civilian, their third L.P., marks an ever changing and highly interesting development for the band.

For Civilian, Wye Oak brought in an outside producer, something they had not done for their previous albums. This may account for some of the changing sound from their 2009 release The Knot. On the other hand , sound evolution seems akin to Wye Oak’s nature as a band. Therefore, to say the presence of a producer on Civilian directly effected the outcome takes away from the artistry of this album. And artistry it is.

Whereas the band’s folk roots have seemingly been mitigated to lyrical ideas of loneliness, Civilian bleeds with shoegaze. The shoegaze influence is supremely apparent on tracks “Hot As Day” and “We Were Wealth”. Highlights of Civilian include “Dogs Eyes” and “Civilian”, do not miss either of these songs.

The more complex sound of this album shows a strong forward step for the band. If evolution is something Wye Oak takes seriously they just might blow up larger than Beach House. Wye Oak shows no sign of slowing down and this can mean nothing but good for the future of the band. I foresee a future where we think of Baltimore and Natty Boh, crab cakes, the Orioles and Wye Oak are the first things that come to mind.

Rating: blank star Wye Oak: Civilian Review