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The Wading
Girl: Based on a True Story
Having only visited once, I cannot safely disseminate an informed opinion of Ohio. All I can say is that some of the best and worst music of the last few years has emerged from what I can only assume are its bored and teeming residents. There seems to be a certain inclination for lyrical stories of loss, displacement, and broken hearts. Perhaps this is engendered by the economic wasteland of post-industrial Ohio; I dont know. But Ohioans have contributed a few stellar albums to my collection. The Wading Girl, with their release Based On A True Story, have made a fine contribution to what I, as an outsider, casually can call Ohio Pop. The Wading Girl combines jaunty Americana pop with collegiate, journalistic lyrics of broken relationships and drunken nights. The last sentence alone could be damning, but this reviewer was pleasantly surprised at the frank tone of Billy Wallace and Sarah Garrisons lyrics. Though the beat of the music follows a consistent mid-tempo to upbeat range, the lyrics are in large part devoted to relationship woes. This is well-traveled material, and even The Wading Girl says nothing particularly new, but they say it with verve and refreshing attitude. The sharply honest lyrics of young broken hearts, guitars, drums, and Billy Wallaces voice form a solid album. The quartet plays with consistent talent and seems to have found their instrumental strengths. Billys voice is reminiscent of Conor Oberst (of Nebraska fame, another state with its own musical mission): a bit brash and capable of vulnerability. Ithaca and Not about You convey the impetuous nature of whatever relationships precipitated this album. The closing track, Song We Hate, is an appropriate end for all the emotional processing: a simple night of drinking with friends. Indeed, drinking forms a second backbone to the songs here young peoples most common ally in the fight against broken hearts. The only drawback to the album is its tendency to pall within the consistent theme of emotion; I can say with some degree of certainty that I, too, have processed a bad relationship ad infinitum but it does tend to wear on ones friends. Otherwise, Based on A True Story remains so clear in its self-confessional rambling and jaunty music that the album does not suffer overtly from the volubility of youth. The Wading Girl is a charming and precocious college student and may appeal mostly to that age group. But then again, theyre from Ohio and it seems they rather favor lyrics of wasted days and drunken nights.
This album can be purchased at American Laundromat Records The Wading Girl Official Website About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
