Hold (album)

Hold is the fifth studio album by American indie rock project Wild Nothing, led by musician Jack Tatum. It was released on October 27, 2023, through Captured Tracks. The album marks their first studio release in over five years, following Indigo (2018). The album features contributions by Tatum's wife Dana, Hatchie, Molly Burch, Becca Mancari, and Tommy Davidson of Beach Fossils.

Hold
Studio album by
Wild Nothing
ReleasedOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
Genre
Length40:26
LabelCaptured Tracks
ProducerJack Tatum
Wild Nothing chronology
Indigo
(2018)		 Hold
(2023)
Singles from Hold
  1. "Headlights On"
    Released: August 16, 2023
  2. "Suburban Solutions"
    Released: September 12, 2023
  3. "Dial Tone"
    Released: October 3, 2023

Background

Tatum explained that he sat with the record for a "very long time", leading his sentiments ahead of the release to be "excited and apprehensive".[1] His first self-produced project since Gemini (2010), it also constitutes his first album as a father. According to Tatum, it explores "existential themes" without taking itself too seriously, unafraid to be either "pop" or "strange", "fun" or "sad", and reflects what the musician loves doing and feels "grateful" for.[2] Furthermore, it focuses on "existential questions", such as the "ego", "suburbia" and "right" life choices.[3] Hold is set to "steer" his music in a "fresh direction".[4] A press release described the project as "more electronic" and "dance-inspired" than his previous records.[5] The album was preceded by three singles: "Headlights On" featuring Hatchie, a track that felt "incredibly cathartic" to Tatum,[6] on August 16, 2023, "Suburban Solutions" on September 12, and "Dial Tone" on October 3.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Far Out[9]
Paste7.2/10[10]
Pitchfork7.5/10[11]

Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Jude Noel wrote that the album "adopts a refreshing sense of whimsy. Self-producing for the first time since 2010, Tatum dabbles in one-off genre experiments, toys with eccentric lyrical devices, and embraces a maximalist ethos that sets this album apart".[11] Andy Steiner of Paste described it as "a pandemic record, another scrappy home studio record, and another record about growing up, trying to find meaning and settling down. Its title, Hold, is correct: The suburbs haunt Wild Nothing".[10] AllMusic's Matt Collar called it "one of his most lush and pristine sounding albums" and wrote that "he has crafted an album of shimmering sophistic-pop magic that sounds like it is a lost gem from the late '80s".[8] Tyler Golsen, reviewing the album for Far Out, summarized it as "a straightforward dive into the bright lights of 1980s synthpop", ultimately finding it to be "little more than a pleasant diversion, one with real skill and joy but also with few surprises".[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jack Tatum

Hold track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Headlights On"3:40
2."Basement El Dorado"2:54
3."The Bodybuilder"4:17
4."Suburban Solutions"3:42
5."Presidio"3:40
6."Dial Tone"3:22
7."Histrion"4:02
8."Prima"4:27
9."Alex"4:05
10."Little Chaos"0:50
11."Pulling Down the Moon (Before You)"5:27
Total length:40:26

References
  1. Lindert, Hattie (August 16, 2023). "Wild Nothing Announce Tour and First Album in 5 Years, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. Kelly, Tyler Damara (August 16, 2023). "Wild Nothing return with first album in five years, Hold". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. Droke, Carolyn (October 18, 2023). "Indie Mixtape 20: Wild Nothing's Hold Is Pensive, Existential Synth-Pop". Uproxx. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. Murray, Robin (August 16, 2023). "Wild Nothing Announces New Album 'Hold'". Clash. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. Anderson, Carys (August 16, 2023). "Wild Nothing Announces New Album Hold, 2023 Tour Dates". Consequence. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. Rettig, James (August 16, 2023). "Wild Nothing – "Headlights On" (Feat. Hatchie)". Stereogum. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. Redfern, Mark (October 3, 2023). "Wild Nothing Shares Video for New Song "Dial Tone"". Under the Radar. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. Collar, Matt. "Wild Nothing – Hold Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. Golsen, Tyler (October 26, 2023). "Wild Nothing – Hold album review: A taste of throwback synthpop for the indie kids". Far Out. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  10. Steiner, Andy (October 27, 2023). "Wild Nothing Returns to His Roots on Hold". Paste. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  11. Noel, Jude (October 27, 2023). "Wild Nothing: Hold Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
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