Wallows tease new album with ‘I Don’t Want to Talk’
Wallows have dropped their latest single and unveiled a brand new United States tour
Photo: Nikoli Partiyeli
Alternative rock band Wallows have released their latest single I Don’t Want to Talk. The single follows the release of their last EP Remote (and its deluxe edition) and their 2019 debut Nothing Happens. After a period of teasing the song on social media, Wallows hinted at a new album on the way; one that I Don’t Want to Talk will likely make an appearance on. Alongside the single release, came the announcement of a 2022 United States tour, with reassurance that international dates would happen eventually.
The high-energy track begins with a quick-tempo guitar, drums and a whistled melody. Halfway through the first verse, there’s a surprise addition to the instrumental: a harmonica. The song picks up even more speed by the arrival of the chorus, making it irresistible not to groove along. The dynamics keep this back-and-forth of mid to high velocity throughout the song with each verse and chorus (and yes, the harmonica does make more than one appearance). It has sonic sounds that get distorted to give it a tinge of a cinematic feel, and the bridge has a delightful breakdown as Braden LeMasters and Dylan Minette cruise towards the song’s finish line as it comes back in for one last kick.
The lyrics deal with insecurities in a relationship, and wishing that the other person would just say it’s over so there’s room to cope (“So could you tell me that it’s over, tell me that it’s over / Tell me that it’s over now?”). There is an obvious third person involved that fuels these insecurities (“He looks more like your type / If I leave you tonight, will he leave your eyes wide?”) and that their partner would be better off with them. It’s a common lyrical theme when writing about relationships; however, Wallows delivers it in a unique way that makes you want to not wallow in your insecurities but rather get lost in the song itself. It follows up the songs on Remote nicely; serving as an excellent introduction to the expected album.
The music video, directed by Jason Lester, has a retro feel to it and a fun concept. There’s a rotating, up close and personal camera in a studio as the band members perform the song, outdoor scenes that make use of mirrors (perhaps inspired by this social media trend), blindfolded street performing, vintage-inspired sets/props, and more. It’s as aesthetic as you can expect from Wallows and irresistibly fun.
Since the debut of the song at their one-off, surprise show back in August, fans have been waiting for the studio version. They definitely got a lot of payoff from the band, and with all of the other exciting things coming their way, they are sure to get some more. In the meantime, it’s worth the while to get up and get lost in I Don’t Want to Talk.