North Carolina group Wednesday have released their anticipated new album, Bleeds, via Dead Oceans. On the already critically acclaimed album, Wednesday present an intoxicating collection of narrative-heavy Southern rock that—like many of the most arresting passages from the band’s discography—thoughtfully explores the vivid link between curiosity and confession.
Bleeds is a patchwork-style triumph of literary allusions and outlaw grit, of place-based poetry and hair-raising noise. Karly Hartzman—founder, frontwoman, and primary lyricist—credits Wednesday’s tightened grasp on their own identity to time spent collaborating on previous albums, plus a tour schedule that’s been both rewarding and relentless. “Bleeds is the spiritual successor to Rat Saw God, and I think the quintessential ‘Wednesday Creek Rock’ album,” Hartzman said, articulating satisfaction with the ways her band has sharpened its trademark sound, how they’ve refined the formula that makes them one of the most interesting rock bands of their generation, as evidenced by the album’s singles ‘Elderberry Wine,’ ‘Wound Up Here (By Holdin On),’ ‘Pick Up That Knife,’ ‘Bitter Everyday,’ and ‘Townies’ released with a video by Lance Bangs.
Karly Hartzman on ‘Townies’:
“The song Townies is about how a young woman’s sexuality, especially when they are first encountering it at a young age, is often weaponized against them in the gossip cycles of a highschool. I write from experience, both my own and a dear friend of mine, who had rumors spread about them that could deeply affect or potentially define our social standing.
At the end of the song I look back and forgive anyone who contributed to this. Even I, as a victim of the rumor mill, wasn’t immune to sharing little scandals with my friends when I came across them. Cause the end of the day, teenagers have no idea who the fuck they are or how what they do might be hurting someone, all you can do is hope everyone grew up to become decent and empathic adults.
The Townies video was filmed by Lance and his crew in Durham, North Carolina. I told Lance I wanted to incorporate the visuals of southern sorority rushing, which is deeply fascinating to me. We played a surprise Wednesday show to a crowded backyard. No one’s legs got chopped off by the boat engine in the hot tub in the process.”
Just like Rat Saw God, one of the defining rock & roll records of the 2020s so far, Bleeds came together at Drop of Sun in Asheville and was produced by Alex Farrar, who’s been recording the band since Twin Plagues. Hartzman again brought demos to the studio, where she and her bandmates—Xandy Chelmis (lap steel, pedal steel), Alan Miller (drums), Ethan Baechtold (bass, piano), and Jake “MJ” Lenderman (guitar)—worked as a team to bulk-up the compositions with the exact right amounts of country truth-telling, indie-pop hooks, and noisy sludge. More than ever, the precise proportions were steered by the lyricism—not only its tone or subject matter, but also the actual sound of the words, as well as Hartzman’s masterfully subjective approach to detail selection.
Wednesday – ‘Pick Up That Knife’ (Official Video)
Praise for Bleeds
“The most exciting band in contemporary indie rock.” -Associated Press
“Fuses the blistering edges of shoegaze and the twangy ache of country into a vessel for vivid, gnarled storytelling, filled with literary detail.” -TIME Magazine
“Wednesday have a way of making hairpin turns through the melody-twang-noise continuum look effortless.” -Pitchfork
“Razor-sharp… A warm welcome back for the band.” -Rolling Stone
“One of the great rising rock bands.” -NPR
“Irresistible.” -GQ
“Captures the band’s signature blend of grunge, country, and emotional release, taking the listener on a cathartic roller-coaster ride.” -Consequence
“Karly Hartzman’s lyrics and vocal delivery are arresting and vivid, Southern Gothic imagery that you can’t look away from no matter how much you want to.” -The FADER
“Some real song of the summer stuff.” –Los Angeles Times
“While some bands lose themselves as they get bigger, Wednesday has only gotten more in touch with its sound, highlighting what makes the five-piece special.” –Paste
“One of her best vocal performances yet.” -Stereogum, Best Song of the Week
“Intoxicating… Yearning, spectacular vocals from Hartzman.” -FLOOD
Wednesday
Bleeds
TRACK LIST:
- Reality TV Argument Bleeds
- Townies
- Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)
- Elderberry Wine
- Phish Pepsi
- Candy Breath
- The Way Love Goes
- Pick Up That Knife
- Wasp
- Bitter Everyday
- Carolina Murder Suicide
- Gary’s II
Website | Bandcamp | Spotify | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
