An epic house party is the first thing that popped into my mind when I hit play on the Nosebleeds LP. The kind of celebration where the coolest squads hang out, playing beer pong and Cards Against Humanity, while Misterwives blasts through the speakers. One would assume that the very second that an “outsider” who contrasts with the vibe sneaks inside to join the fun, everything crashes to dead silence. And yet, it does not. Why? It’s the music. Music is universal and has so many powers; one is bringing people together. The indie pop band, MisterWives has achieved this platform with their highly anticipated fourth studio album Nosebleeds. It is part low-frequency grunge and 80’s adventurous. It is a casual reminder of why this group is still around.
The origin story of MisterWives is a simple one; it all began in 2012 in the heart of NYC when lead singer Mandy Lee wanted an 80s cover band for her birthday party. She partnered with fellow musicians Etienne Bowler and William Hehir, and eventually, MisterWives evolved into a five-member band, including Marc Campbell and Mike Murphy.
Nosebleeds is the highly anticipated fourth studio album, and it is something that should be embraced. Regardless of their ages, it sounds like a lot of life has been lived within this group. Clocking in at forty-three minutes and featuring tracks that are defiant, yet stylish, Nosebleeds shines its spotlight on love, anger, and redemption from the “dysfunction” of a breakup.
We are greeted with the profound track “Out of Your Mind,” with brutal lyrics that have no time to sugarcoat the pain Mandy is vocalizing. With commanding beats on bass and drums, there are a slew of very effortless and inspiring tracks where intent and craft are in the foreground of each song.
Nosebleeds seems different from anything MisterWives has done in the past. They are the kind of band that you cannot put in a box. There is a confident swagger and a high-energy enthusiasm that you don’t hear much of nowadays. With free-wheeling storytelling, MisterWives has accepted the grunge torch handed to them and ran with it.
Featured Photo Credit: Matty Vogel