After a year of teaseful singles throughout lockdown, Still Woozy has released his debut album ‘If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is’ and it’s filled with indie-psychedelic pop jams that push the boundaries of the genre to their limits.
The bouncy, immediately listenable, and confident 13-track LP gives the world an introduction to Woozy’s conflicted but thematic mind. Join me on a song-by-song review through this debut masterpiece. Side effects that may include: wooziness.
Opening with Woof, Woozy gives us a narration through his life and introduces us to his conflicting mind. With retro guitars and lyrics that seem to offload stress and anxiety (‘it’s not baggage, it’s cargo’) this opening track is almost a warning into the melancholic but simultaneously uplifting feel of the album. He suggests that nobody would ‘last a day in [his] brain, you’d probably go insane’, and the all-black-and-white music video, filled with rowdy crowds, constructs a bit of chaos that only exemplifies this idea further. It’s the perfect beginning to an album that explores both light and dark in equal measure.
Rocky thankfully offers us a break with pure laid-back summer drive vibes. It’s got a smooth, relaxed melody that transports us to a place of easygoingness. Woozy expertly navigates ups and downs, romantic dreams, and conflicting needs and desires in the lyrics ‘I just dream that it isn’t how it seems’. The track exists simply to ooze coolness, bringing a sense of calm to the journey we’ve just embarked on.
Upon announcing the album, Woozy simultaneously released That’s Life, the lead single that is a narration on life through a tightly arranged, confessional delivery and production. The song captures the sense of growth and contemplation that really permeates the entire album, whilst still being really accessible. It’s a smoothie of vulnerability and a colourful one that sticks. Great lead single choice.
In a similar way, in Woopie, we get a feel for the bedroom pop studio that Woozy recorded in from the warm and cosy feel. This one has such a warmth and coziness to it, the uplifting melodies perfectly complementing this vibe too. There is a juxtaposition of light and dark (we’ll soon find that this is a signature element of Woozy’s style) here, but the playful production makes it a standout. Sonically and emotionally, this track quickly became one of my faves on the album.
In a dramatic twist as if a parallel reality mixed the 1960s with the 21st Century, Get By adopts a swing, twist-and-shake style that redefines what it means to be cool. Layered background vocals and a different harmony sung on apparently every syllable makes this track one that is hard to keep up with, but offers an experimental payoff that I think will become a signature sound of Woozy in years to come. It’s chaotic in the best possible way, and the mix of genres gives it a real timeless quality.
In Before You Were Mine, we get a gentle taste of how perfectly executed this album actually is. The track gives off a relaxed, glossy, and harmonically sound and is a well-deserved emotional breather. Here, Woozy demonstrates his ability to bring down the tempo without sacrificing depth of lyrics, offering a moment of reflection that brings a nice balance to the album’s vibe.
On Drake, my personal favourite, we’re exposed to Woozy’s most raw and influential writing abilities. The Beatles-esque melody in the verses ‘all I want is to be happy, all I want, all I want is love’ opens up a window into Woozy’s soul. He expresses his yearning for love, happiness, and joy after the unfortunate endings of a relationship. All this layered over an acoustic guitar and composed in a triplet measure, this one is a cleverly constructed cut with some of the best songwriting so far.
Following this, the song that first attracted me to Still Woozy’s work, Window, highlights young romance. Shown through the devoted lyrics ‘if I got one thing right it was you and me’, it’s an anthem for partners. If you listen closely, you’ll also hear Woozy’s genius mind at work, cheekily incorporating bed squeaks into the production, which adds a playful touch to the track’s already intimate feel.
In a down-tempo turn, Kenny sees Woozy opening-up about life struggles and depression. Producing this album in his bedroom studio throughout multiple lockdowns, he manages to incorporate his own journey through struggling times, confessing that he has dealt most of it alone: ‘don’t pay me no mind, I’ll be fine, I’ll pull myself together this time’. It’s a suggestive track depicting a journey Woozy knows all too well. The honesty and rawness on this one really offers a vulnerability, making it a stand out on the album.
In Get Down, it’s clear that at this point, we need a track that delivers vibes. In a compact 2-minute release, this one’s devoted to a newfound love, ignoring the inevitable ending: ‘she’s gonna break me, but I don’t give a damn right now’. This upbeat anthem feels spontaneous and impulsive, capturing that intense feeling of being caught up in the moment, even though the outcome may not be ideal.
We see a whole new side of production and lyrics in All Along. Rock-inspired instrumentation and a sound that feels like it belongs in the Shrek soundtrack, this track is a rebellious take on a break-up, shown through the unapologetic lyrics ‘it’s over and I’m over it, I can finally breathe again’. Focusing on finding out the hidden truths of a relationship, Woozy shouts and expresses his relief in the choruses, leading to a great sing-along outro mantra of ‘I finally found out I wasn’t wrong all along’. Hope you’re okay, Sven.
As the album starts to draw to a close, we get a tempo shift once again into WTF. Repetitively mellow in its production, Woozy acknowledges that he can only love when his ‘soul is good’ and recognises that his brain is in a ‘downward spiral’. This is a recurring theme that we have seen throughout this album, but the repetitive nature of the track offers a new perspective of being stuck in a loop. It’s introspective and disorienting, but in a way that allows the complexity of Woozy’s own mind to shine.
To follow in the closing track, These Days is a reflective and nostalgic ending which encompasses the themes that have been sonic throughout the album. Woozy touches upon his mental health (‘low would’ve been bad by now’) and his helplessness (‘don’t you give up, give up on me’).
The track shows us an understanding of how days can be long and empty at times, but once recognised in itself… this is okay. The spiritually uplifting outro repeating ‘these days, they go on, they go on, they go on’ is the perfectly serene ending we were wanting.
I really rate this album and it’s been on repeat since its release. It has something for everyone and it delivers a consistent theme and colour palette throughout. If you enjoy indie-pop, psychedelic pop and neo-soul, Still Woozy’s debut is a smash and I’m confident that his future projects will only build on the wild success and artistry that he has uniquely created here. Massive credit and super excited for more.
Glerbie 