Will Wood – “The Normal Album”
“The Normal Album”
written, performed, and masterfully executed by Will Wood and The Tapeworms
Rating: HOLY F*CKING SHIT THIS IS AMAZEBALLS
FFO: Foxy Shazam, Elton John, The Beegees, The Beach Boys, Donna Summer, Gogol Bordello, Streetlight Manifesto, World Inferno Friendship Society, Katy Perry, Panic! At the Disco, System of a Down, and Frank Zappa.
On their first 3 records, NJ’s avant-pop outfit Will Wood and The Tapeworms unleashed upon the world an arsenal of piano-driven madness and defined themselves as one of the single most dynamic acts ever to hit the stage, studio, or otherwise. I found this so exciting in 2017 when they first reached out to me, I fell in love in 2018 when I was fortunate enough to see them perform their EXPLOSIVE live show (multiple times), and I’ve been an avid fan ever since. I was so excited to hear they were aiming for the stars with a “pop” driven record and after 2 years of getting glimpses, successful crowdfunding, and obvious attention; its here. “The Normal Album” is upon us and there’s no going back.
“Pop” is a genre that’s undergone several face lifts in its long, culture-defining tenure. We’ve used that term to define so many sounds and artists in just the last century that it becomes almost impossible to pin down a cohesive sonic element for the genre. The only expectation we can ever really have for “pop” music is that we’ll be singing the hooks long after the music stops.
“The Normal Album” plays on these notions, chews them up, and *twist* spits out something gloriously unique. When I say I’ve NEVER heard a record like this, I mean it.
So let’s talk about it.
The band is helmed by it’s highly energetic, piano-wielding, art-making, truly eclectic, macabre loving, pet-rat owning singer/songwriter namesake: Will Wood. Will’s dynamic vocal range SOARS to it’s highest highs and lowest lows on “Normal”. Standout tracks like I/Me/Myself and Blackboxwarrior put this on full display.
Importantly so, what is a captain without their merry crew? This record is impossible to make without the personnel filling out The Tapeworms’ ranks. Drummer Mario Conte masterfully dictates the feel of these tracks and accents the carnival of keys stemming from Will’s keyboard with precision, bassist Vater Boris rocks a MEAN standup bass and keeps the pocket in check, guitarist Mike Bottiglieri flares the dynamics, and multi-instrumentalist/sax-man Matt Berger crushes his punches across the entirety of this 45 minute masterpiece.
The album closes on two of my favorite songs ever written. No joke, I actually have a phone video of Will playing “Love Me Normally” and “Memento Mori” on his piano at the end of a 2018 set and have been waiting for the full versions of these tracks to be fully realized ever since.
The full strength of WWATT is on full display in these 2 final tracks (titled “Love Me, Normally” and “Momento Mori: The Most Important Thing in the World” and if there’s one takeaway from them, (and the album as a whole) it’s to be yourself no matter who you are and what the risk. Not everybody needs to love you and that’s okay because in the end it really doesn’t matter. You’re the only you ever made and there’s value in that.
“The Normal Album” is streaming everywhere that music streams courtesy of Say-10 Records.
Watch the music videos for “Love, Me Normally”, “Laplace’s Angels (Hurt People? Hurt People)”, and “…Well, Better Than The Alternative” below⬇️⬇️⬇️
Love, Me Normally – music video:
…well, better than the alternative – music video
Laplace’s Angel – music video:
You could definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart. “We are near waking when we dream we are dreaming.” by Friedrich von Hardenberg Novalis.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.