RETRO REVIEW: Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
A cosmic drift through unbearable uncertainty.
I’ve been writing reviews of music for several years now, and as I get back into writing regularly, I thought I could repost some of my favorite reviews I’ve written here. Today I wanted to look back at what I wrote about Weyes Blood’s serene trip through a murky millennial future that she took us on with 2019’s Titanic Rising. You can find the original post on my AOTY account here.
The hype has been answered! This album is amazing! Just about every part of the album sounds the part of the title, be it the fantastic production or Natalie Mering’s glorious vocals. Everything here is clicking for Weyes Blood, and in turn she’s given us one of the best albums of the year.
Every arrangement on Titanic Rising is huge, full of gorgeous, spacious melodies that other artists only dream of concocting. These songs can be dreamy, pillowy soft, like floating down a lazy river of atmospheric strings and synthesizers. But the arrangements can also be more upfront while maintaining their beautifulness. “Everyday” has a more full-on rock vibe in its rhythm, but it makes the song all the more captivating. “Something to Believe” and “Wild Time” start slower but kick into high gear as they move along, a wonderous mixture of the two tempos merging into one. The tenderest moments on songs like “Picture Me Better” make me nostalgic for a time I’ve never experienced, and I think that’s as powerful a feeling as you can evoke in song.
While mainly an indie folk record, influences are abound from various corners of the music world. Space rock is prevalent on “Something to Believe” and the appropriately titled “Andromeda”. Little bits of psychedelic rock and new wave are peppered into songs as a nice compliment to their massive scope. Small moments give nice variety, like finger snapping (Mirror Forever) or bongos (A Lot’s Gonna Change). They compliment the overall melodies without taking away from them.
The album peaks with “Movies”, which begins with a bubbling synth backdrop that slowly but surely builds into a climactic, cinematic meeting of strings and synths. The incredible sound of the song fully wraps you into the mood, accompanied by Natalie’s powerful singing. Her voice is confident and absolutely titanic, matching the symphonic orchestration tit for tat. Her croons about love and modern life are well placed, and despite the seeming deluge of problems she addresses, Natalie always sounds in high spirits.
It’s not every day (or even year) that an album like this comes along, so well produced and performed. It’s a record you can find new beauty in upon each listen, like a never ending stream of lush sonic joy.
Verdict: 9.1/10
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