Halifax psychedelic pop band Walrus are back again with their second full-length album, Cool to Who. With a well-rounded sound, Cool to Who delivers 10 tracks of danceable, groovy music that hits on real-life issues.
While it sticks to Walrus’s sound fairly faithfully, Cool to Who is overall more uniform than their previous album, Family Hangover. And with the majority of the the ten tracks carrying dance-worthy beats and catchy hooks, it is clear Walrus have really stepped up their game for this release.
Though the album opens on a slower note with “Breathe,” title track “Cool to Who” quickly swoops in to lift the beat, which is maintained fairly well throughout with the exception of a dip at “Marcel.”
Another notable progression in this album from the last is the band’s lesser reliance on drawn-out, droning psychedelic breakdowns. This isn’t to say those breakdowns were undesirable, but this change does feel like a mark of growth for the band. The tracks on Cool to Who have strong structure and lyricism, with vocals that are less masked with effects.
The two heaviest tracks on the album would have to be “Played out,” with its ample use of distortion and echoey effects, and “Bored to Death,” which comes in as the penultimate track and takes on something of a deep surf-rock sound.
“Bored to Death” leads us nicely into what for me is the highlight of the album: “Anymore.” Finishing on a strong note, this is a mellower track that resonates deeply with the feeling of growing distant from people and places and habits. The notes are just low enough to perfectly convey the emotions, and the beat is at a pace that says both “hey, I’m right here with you” and “it’s okay; this is growth.” The track gradually grows lighter as it plays through, and once it finishes I find myself searching for the rewind button so I can listen to it again. This track has earned its place on my “On Repeat” Spotify playlist fairly and squarely and will surely stay there for some time.
The album covers other real and relatable topics too, including seeing the good in change, desiring to be something you’re not and looking back on ended relationships.
The production quality is certainly not lacking, either. The band weave between echoey, hazy and crystal clear sounds in a way that feels modern but carries a retro vibe, which is well suited to their style. But even with these variances, the overall sound quality remains uniform throughout.
The band’s retro vibe isn’t a new quality, however. But even as they move towards a sound that is more identifiably Walrus, that retro element still does show its face and can at times even be likened to the Beatles, especially in “Ballad of Love.”
Walrus does not disappoint with Cool to Who. The band’s groovy, psychedelic sound, while labelled as pop, delivers heavy beats and rock ‘n’ roll riffs. It’s pop for the rock lovers and psychedelic for the psychedelic lovers, and it’s likely to take them somewhere.