The Wrens The Meadowlands Rating: 7.3 Label: Absolutely Kosher Release: 2003

While The Wrens have been active in the recording industry for some years now, The Meadowlands offered my first taste of the Secaucus, NJ-based band. Purchased used on a whim, I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings contained within.

The brief, reflective opening track ‘The House That Guilt Built’ gradually introduces the Wrens on a somewhat somber tone, recalling a life that seems to have passed by without much fanfare. The lyrics, some of the few on the album that are discernible without the liner notes or repeated listens, end with

“And I’m nowhere near / what I’d dreamed I’d be /

I can’t believe / what life has done to me”

and suggest the band’s state at recording time: a group no longer disillusioned with the optimism of youth, caught up in the realities of adulthood.

The album remains somewhat centered on this theme, primarily drawing on relationships gone awry and the rigors of the life of a day-job holding band for song material. Despite the hardships musically personified throughout, The Meadowlands manages to shine through with a sound that defines the Wrens in this latest release: a band that has refused to sell out, touting their independence as a red badge, transforming the often accompanying gritty reality into a springboard for artistic expression- an ultimately uplifting listen. “This Boy is Exhausted”, “Faster Gun” and “Everyone Choose Sides” showcase The Wrens approach to rock: hard-driving rhythms mixed with explosive riffs and upbeat tempos. “She Sends Kisses”, “Thirteen Grand“ and “13 Months in 6 Minutes” demonstrate the group’s dynamic appeal by offering ballad-esque and reflective elements. The sum is a well-balanced, coherent mix of 13 easy to listen and easy to like tracks.

Throughout the album the lyrics are difficult to decipher without the liner notes or multiple and careful listens- they often blend into the track as if they are being included merely to add a vocal rhythm instrument. The effect is not all bad and adds a somewhat meditative aspect to some tracks, complementing repetitive guitar and synthesizer riffs, though the lyrical craftsmanship gets washed out in the melee.

For those similarly unfamiliar with The Wrens, I recommend The Meadowlands as a good gateway album to the band’s catalog of releases. The band’s story and music rocks with the indy attitude that defines the genre- each of the album’s 13 tracks has something to offer and plays well from start to end.

Written by: Mike Romankiewicz on March 30th, 2009 | Filed under Music Reviews