Album Review: Pale Waves – Unwanted

The Breakdown

‘Unwanted’ offers a more commercial alternative rock sound with a pop punk edge whilst retaining the angsty emo driven lyricism that Pale Waves are recognised for.

Dirty Hit Records – 9.0

Bouncing onto the scene back in 2014 ‘Unwanted’ marks the third album from Pale Waves preceded by ‘Who Am I?’ in 2021 and ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ in 2018. Pale Waves are a four-piece band from Manchester consisting of Heather Baron-Gracie (lead vocals/guitar), Ciara Doran (drums), Hugo Silvani (lead guitar) and Charlie Wood (bass).

Unwanted, due for release on the 12^th August with record label Dirty Hit, was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Zakk Cervini (who has previously worked with the likes of Blink 182, Modern baseball and Halsey) and delivers 13 tracks acting almost as a part two to the ‘Who Am I?’ album exploring further into the pop punk genre and definitely moving away from the 80s pop synth of their first album.

Lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie commented about the origin of both the album sound and name as ‘it was really the only thing this album could be called; it’s bold and unapologetic, and that’s what the Pale Waves community is about’.

With noted influences from Garbage, Paramore and Blondie with sounds of The Pretty Reckless, Avril Lavigne and Paramore thrown in for good measure, ‘Unwanted’ offers a more commercial alternative rock sound with a pop punk edge whilst retaining the angsty emo driven lyricism that Pale Waves are recognised for.

Opening track ‘Lies’ starts the album off with a bang describing someone who built up trust and then destroyed it, all shown through the heavy guitar riffs accompanying the heartbreak lyrics. Title track ‘Unwanted’ brings a pop-rock feel reminiscent of Avril from the 2000s with ‘Only Problem’ leaning more into that rock vibe. Slower tracks ‘Numb’, ‘Without You’ and ‘The Hard Way’ are more sentimental, reflective tracks that mix up the pace of the album offering some light and shade before launching into the final two tracks ‘Act My Age’ and ‘So Sick’ bookmarking a refined and self-assured album.

With the ever-distinctive Heather vocals, strong hooks and anthemic melodies, ‘Unwanted’ captures the pop-punk 90s and early 00s sounds and thoroughly brings them back into 2022. As a follow up to the ‘Who Am I?’ album, for some it may feel a little too similar and somewhat playing it safe but if you can harness that sound which Pale Waves clearly have, why change it!

The new album is available here with the video for single ‘Clean’ also due out Friday.