WHY?
The Well I Fell Into (Waterlines)
On their first album in five years, Why? return with a surprisingly personal album that stands out as something of an oddity in their back catalogue. Starting with Marigold, frontman and founder member Yoni Wolf tells a personal tale of a failed relationship. His usual abstract and surreal lyrics absent in place of a confessional style that lets the listener prepare for the album to come.
Musically, The Well I Fell Into is much more indie rock-styled than Why?’s hip-hop-influenced previous efforts. There’s still rapping – of sorts – but it feels closer to spoken word than a Why? song like The Vowels Part 2. Some fans might be disappointed, but anyone who has followed Why?’s career should really see this as a natural evolution – a newfound confidence on the part of Yoni, perhaps. Twenty years since the project’s beginnings, Why? are continuing to push themselves into new and interesting territory.
words MATT LEE
