‘Who Am I?’ is a lot of things. It’s a pop record from the recent past, an album that looks deep within but projects strongly outwards too. But what it most certainly isn’t is a one-trick pony. Pale Waves were always better than that.
Personal awakenings are the driving force behind the Manchester group's second album, which was borne out of hardship that they never shy away from.
On their sophomore album, Pale Waves comes into their own with a whole new level of confidence.
Who Am I? may be a sidestep on their journey to individuality — distancing themselves from comparisons to The 1975 by emulating Avril Lavigne isn’t exactly a foolproof plan — but for a band still early in their career, it’s another definite confirmation of their potential until they eventually carve out a niche of their own.
You get the sense they’re still not quite certain who or what they want to be. But they’re definitely headed in the right direction.
The Manchester quartet is still stuck as an imitation act, but their love for 2000s-era singer-songwriter pop—and their star potential—comes through.
Pale Waves bring little more than the fundamentals on their sophomore album.
Despite the album’s slick production and radio-ready melodies, one wishes Pale Waves could find a more sophisticated language to express youthful enlightenment.