CD of The Week

Dream Wife - So When You Gonna... (Lucky Number)

Sophomore jinxes are hard to predict and even harder to avoid. On So When You Gonna... London-via-Brighton trio Dream Wife has delivered a second helping of thrashy indie pop-punk, now with a sense of growth and maturity. The trio pulls no punches for 41 minutes and 11 songs. Icelandic-born lead singer Rakel Mjöll belts out her riot grrl anthems over top of the blistering rhythm section of guitarist Alice Go and bassist Bella Podpadec, pulling influences from Le Tigre, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and even Blondie (check out the bass line on "Hasta La Vista").

The running theme of the album is all about seizing the moment and acknowledging that lust and infatuation are not bad things. On the title track, Rakel screams at a potential hookup candidate, asking "so when you gonna kiss me?" "Put your money where your mouth is" is the plea on lead single "Sports!" and "RH RN" repeatedly exclaims that "We are the youngest we will ever be / We are the oldest we have ever been / Right here right now." The rest of the album features all sorts of fun, cheeky lyrical jabs and a fresh assortment of musical genres. The aforementioned maturity is on display when they tackle the subject matters at the core of women's rights. "Temporary" tackles miscarriage, while abortion is at the forefront of the beautiful, piano anthem closer "After the Rain."

Dream Wife are the poster children for not apologizing, within seconds of hitting play, a guitar screeches out some feedback and we hear "Fuck sorry, fuck please will you so kindly start again." While utilizing an all-women production team, on SWYG... these feminist punks are pleading for the female community to unashamedly ask for what they want and encouraging them to live in the present. At a time in history when the fight for equality and justice is at the front of our headlines, this album feels especially felicitous. Thankfully Dream Wife also knows how to keep it light. One could easily predict a plethora of genre-defying music for years to come.
Review by Dave Lindquist