Bastille’s debut album ‘Bad Blood’ has been one of my favourite records for a very long time so, naturally, I was very excited to hear their follow-up record ‘Wild World’. The British indie pop group’s new album includes the hits ‘Good Grief’ and ‘Send Them Off’ which didn’t receive the critical or commercial success the singles off the first album did – and it made me worry.
However, Bastille have released another fantastic record – one which shows a lot of growth. Not only has the group’s songwriting improved but they’ve taken more risks this time around, making ‘Wild World’ an edgier album than ‘Bad Blood’. The album is a work of art. The group have added more electronic elements than ever before into their signature pop sound and is evident on tracks such as “The Currents” and “Lethargy”. The group have explored with a variety of smaller sounds on the album as well and the instrumental change is probably the greatest indication of the band’s growth.
Dan Smith’s vocals are incredibly unique. Emotion pours out of the musician with every word. His passion is addictive and it’s one of the reasons the group has become so popular over the years. The album is a mixture of stadium-sized pop tracks and emotional ballads and, unsurprisingly, it’s on the album’s quieter moments where Dan really shines.
Lyrically, the group have always been strong but, like with their sound, Bastille have grown in this regard as well. The group have such a beautiful way with words and use this to tell their story. The album, although more commercial, is still incredibly deep and artistic and it’s great to see the group make business decisions while still staying true to their sound.
While there are so many fantastic layers to this record, it’s not without its flaws. I think ‘Good Grief’ was the worst choice for lead single and, unfortunately, that decision will impact the success of the record. The group also delivers a simpler record than their debut. Their complexity was something that really helped the group stand out of the crowd and, unfortunately, it doesn’t translate on this record.
Overall, this is a great follow-up to their debut record. ‘Wild World’ has everything you expected from the band and more. Each track on the record serves a purpose and serves a purpose on Bastille’s next chapter. This is a brilliant pop record. The group have delivered a more commercial album than their debut record which is the perfect next move for the boys.
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