When it comes to taking the world by storm, few bands have made it look as effortless as Pale Waves. The modern-day patron saints of goth pop have been riding a slow-burn for the better part of a year; tirelessly cranking out hit after hit starting with their runaway smash, “Television Romance” in September of 2017. Today, the band released another incredible new song called “Eighteen” and announced that their long-awaited debut album, My Mind Makes Noises, will be released September 14th on Dirty Hit/Interscope Records.
Thanks in no small part to the band’s work ethic, the last year has felt bookended by their singles. Whenever a Pale Waves song would start to vacate the crawlspaces of my brain, there was another to help fill the gaps. The album will feature a handful of these tracks, including “Television Romance,” “There’s A Honey,” “Kiss,” and “Noises.” When these songs were being released, they each found a way to feel more cutting and anthemic than the last — their brand of sugar-high hooks are baked into the glassiest, most pristine pop-songs and will mercilessly latch onto the closest person that’s willing to listen. The last two weeks alone are a testament to this. I don’t think a day has gone by where I haven’t listened to “Noises” at least three times and the recently released “Eighteen” is bound to make it’s way into that daily rotation before I even finish typing this post.
The new single trades in the somber tones of “Noises” for the kind of bombastic dance-rock energy that is sure to grab attention. Imagine if Carly Rae Jepsen fronted the Cure but they weren’t afraid to really just ride a riff. Everything hits and crashes in a way that feels euphoric — an escape from the drab setting described in the songs opening lyric, which sees vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie singing, “This city depresses me/but you try to be everything I need” before exploding into the mania of young-love with the lyrics “We sat on the corner/kissing each other/felt like I could finally see in color.” The hook rips through verses that feel like a black and white photograph, leaving trails of colorful light in its wake. You can’t help getting completely swept up in the power of it all, and following it to an abrupt end that makes you want to listen a hundred times over.
The artwork and tracklisting for Pale Waves long-awaited debut album, My Mind Makes Noises can be found below.
Track List
- Eighteen
- There’s A Honey
- Noises
- Came In Close
- Loveless Girl
- Drive
- When Did I lose It All
- She
- One More Time
- Television Romance
- Red
- Kiss
- Black
- Karl
Pre-orders for My Mind Makes Noises can be found here. You can catch Pale Waves on tour starting in August with a stint at Lollapalooza. All upcoming dates can be found below.
AUGUST
2 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL
4 – Lollapalooza Aftershow (Concord Music Hall) – Chicago, IL
6 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO (Sold Out) – with CHVRCHES
9 – Ogden Amphitheater – Ogden, UT – with CHVRCHES
11– Outside Lands Festival – San Francisco, CA
12 – 107.7 The End’s Summer Camp – Seattle, WA
OCTOBER
26 – Scoot Inn – Austin, TX
27 – Trees – Dallas, TX
28 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
30 – Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
31 – Crowbar – Tampa, FL
NOVEMBER
2 – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3 – The Social – Orlando, FL
5 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
6 – Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN
7 – The Underground – Charlotte, NC
9 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA
10 – U Street Music Hall – Washington, DC
11 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
12 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
13 – The Sinclair – Boston, MA
15 – Opera House – Toronto, ON
17 – Corona Capital – Mexico City, MX
19 – Madison Live – Covington, KY
20 – Skully’s – Columbus, OH
23 – Rave Bar – Milwaukee, WI
24 – Amsterdam Hall – St. Paul, MN
25 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
26 – Bluebird Theatre – Denver, CO
28 – In The Venue – Salt Lake City, UT
30 – Neumos – Seattle, WA
DECEMBER
1 – Venue – Vancouver, BC
6 – The Fonda – Los Angeles, CA