Bursting with deftly polished harmonies, guitars that fizz and jangle in and out of focus and tunes all wrapped in a timeless veneer evoking the past five decades, Waiting For Something To Happen makes a mockery of the so-called difficult second album syndrome.
Assured, confident, and infectious, 'Wait For Something To Happen' sees a band developing both as musicians and songwriters while still retaining what made them great in the first place.
More so than on their fine self-titled debut LP, Veronica Falls sound like a band here, a well-oiled outfit replete with formidable rhythmic chops and dynamic band interplay doubtlessly honed from over a year's worth of gigs.
Even in its most woe-is-me moments, Waiting For Something To Happen is palpably enjoyable, as much an ode to tidied rock tropes as it is to adolescent wanderings of the heart.
Tthe dark and light levels are pushed to the middle and drenched in color and tracers, as if the band members were given access to a cobwebbed garage for six months with the sole entertainment being a small supply of psychedelics and their parents’ record collections.
A noticeable step up from their début – which the group put down to being more adept at their instruments, also responsible for the increased lightness of touch
Taken apart from the high expectations set by their debut, Waiting is another strong collection of guitar pop gems from a band quickly proving itself to be a better, more elusive quantity than any easy genre tag might suggest.
Along the way the band delivers a succession of sparkling melodies in wistful yet grounded indie-pop songs that are satisfying enough for you not to want to change stations along the route.
There are rewards to be had for perseverance but, just like before, we’re left wishing they’d loosen up a bit.
There is very little risk on this sophomore effort, and a turn away from their charm carries very little weight if it sounds even more like the countless influences.
What they offer on ‘Waiting For Something To Happen’ is a fey-pop selection box that leaves out the gothic grit and garage-infused rabble of early tracks
I can’t get help but be frustrated when a band who seemingly had themselves well and figured out misses the mark like this.
Veronica Falls display their influences so blatantly it’s almost brazen; songs on this album would have easily fit into 80s indie pop or C86-ish mixtapes, and it’s clear why this might be a turnoff for some. However, classic indie pop doesn’t require a reinvention of the wheel; a reason the genre has endured is because as long as there are skilled enough bands, all it takes is one excellent melody or line to get you hooked. And “Waiting For Something to Happen” is ... read more
#28 | / | Rough Trade |