Ben Quad break down every track on new album 'Wisher'

4 hours ago7 min read

In the bustling ecosystem of modern emo, where the genre's heart still beats with the raw vulnerability of its late-90s zenith, Oklahoma City's Ben Quad has carved out a space that feels both nostalgically potent and fiercely contemporary. Their sophomore album, 'Wisher,' arriving as their debut on the venerable Pure Noise Records, isn't just a collection of songs; it's a meticulously sequenced emotional odyssey, a concept album of the self that unfolds with the narrative pull of a coming-of-age film scored by American Football and The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die.The band recently sat down to dissect each track, offering a track-by-track commentary that feels less like a press junket and more like a late-night, post-show conversation in a dusty van, the kind where artistic intentions are laid bare amidst a tangle of guitar cables and half-empty energy drinks. They describe the opening track as a 'thesis statement,' built on a foundation of twinkling, interlocking guitars that suddenly erupt into a cathartic, shouted climax, setting the stage for an album deeply concerned with the gap between aspiration and reality—the 'wisher' versus the 'doer.' One of the mid-album standouts, a sprawling six-minute epic, is revealed to have been born from a single, looping guitar riff that the band jammed on for nearly an hour, slowly sculpting its dynamic peaks and valleys, a process reminiscent of the improvisational roots of jazz, filtered through an emo lens. Lyrically, the album doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable, grappling with themes of fractured friendships, the anxiety of impending adulthood, and the quiet despair of suburban inertia, all delivered with a poetic specificity that avoids cliché.The production, handled by a rising star in the indie scene, is notably crisp, allowing the intricate dual-guitar work and the powerful, articulate drumming to shine without sacrificing the visceral, room-shaking energy of their live show. This attention to sonic detail marks a significant evolution from their scrappier, self-recorded debut, positioning 'Wisher' as a landmark release not just for Ben Quad, but for the broader 'Fourth Wave Emo' movement, demonstrating that the genre can achieve a level of musical sophistication and thematic depth worthy of the mainstream recognition it so often flirts with.For fans and newcomers alike, the album functions as a perfect entry point, a cohesive work that rewards deep, headphone-assisted listening as much as it provides the soundtrack for a long, contemplative drive. In an era of fragmented attention spans and single-driven releases, 'Wisher' is a bold affirmation of the album as an art form, a complete thought rendered in crashing cymbals, yearning melodies, and brutally honest confessionals.

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#Ben Quad

#Wisher

#album breakdown

#track by track

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#Pure Noise Records

#Oklahoma City

#sophomore album