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- Summary: The 5th LP from the L.A.-based psych-rock band is a 15-song double-album.
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- Record Label: Drag City
- Genre(s): Indie/Alternative
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Score distribution:
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Positive: 8 out of 9
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Mixed: 1 out of 9
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Negative: 0 out of 9
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Apr 25, 2019Throughout Laughing Matter, Hanson and Burrows’ lyrics take everything known about defined forms and senses and turn them on their head—sounds can be swallowed, the future’s neck can be cut and life can eat into life--and the album’s improvisational jams, winding outros and emotionally crushing melodies result in perhaps Wand’s most realized release yet.
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UncutApr 19, 2019Mix[es] up The Bends and OK Computer with a pinch of late Fugazi and Talk Talk. [May 2019, p.37]
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Apr 19, 2019Once fast and abrasive, Wand are softer and more thoughtful on Laughing Matter; the fuzz and distortion are no longer a main feature, but rather tools used to add layers of texture and sound alongside rhythmic guitar and evocative keys.
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May 8, 2019Aheftier Wand album could never be wrong for its indulgence--but it can be hard to digest the whole record in a sitting without zoning out during some of its spacier stretches. Still, Laughing Matter is once again a huge leap forward for Wand, who are on pace to become one of America's best unsung rock bands.
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Jun 10, 2019Laughing Matter is a Major Statement in the classic style, which might have been irksome if Wand hadn’t pulled it off. Successful gestures of this sort can serve the purpose of reminding us why those tropes were satisfying in the first place, and if this album doesn’t quite boast the succinct charms of past releases its makes its own, compelling argument to turn on, tune in, and just let it all wash over you.
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Apr 19, 2019As they pare away at their sound, Wand move further away from psych-rock and closer to true psychedelia.
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MojoApr 19, 2019Melds the LA band's sonic fuzz with mellifluous recent LPs, sombre dispatches, ambient and wistful pop. [May 2019, p.96]
Score distribution:
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Positive: 1 out of 1
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Mixed: 0 out of 1
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Negative: 0 out of 1
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May 9, 2019
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