REVIEW: Remi Wolf - Debut Album: ‘Juno’
Kaleidoscopic rising pop star, Remi Wolf, continues to push musical boundaries while exuding this vibrant personality through each track. Though, the colorful & chaotic exterior of her artistry often juxtaposes her storytelling in her song-writing. Wolf’s debut album Juno explores deep introspection during the past year of isolation, including a challenging journey of sobriety.
Photo by Alma Rosaz
Wolf’s previous releases consist of the EP’s: You’re A Dog! and I’m Allergic To Dogs!, which sets up the new album wonderfully as Juno is named after her recently adopted dog, whom she’s allergic to but loves dearly. Although, the album honors her furry friend on the cover, the contents of the record hone in on Wolf’s emotional hurdles behind layers of guitar grooves & colorful quips. First track and leading single of the album, “Liquor Store,” is a prime example of this as she prances around a Dr. Seuss-esque music video set while singing about her dependency on alcohol & the people around her. The track, “Anthony Kiedis,” uses the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ frontman as a character reference to her struggles with addiction and how the love for her family is “intrinsic” just like Kiedis’s role in the dynamic rock band.
Dissecting each track of Juno instrumentally would take several listens since there are so many layers. One of Wolf’s signature sounds is her vocals being ladened with stacked harmonies. In tracks like “wyd” and “Volkiano,” there’s 00’s-pop inspired groove guitar & synth stabs that take us back to the days of “Señorita” by Justin Timberlake or Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me”… you know, simpler times. Then, we’re transposed to a percussion-driven chant-like melody in “Buttermilk” where Wolf recounts her attachment issues; “You’re pulling me out of the gutter / Then throwing me into the lava.”
Listeners will think they understand the essence of Juno and then be pleasantly blindsided by each following track’s tune. With hints of various genres sprinkled throughout like surf rock & hyper-pop, and Wolf showcasing her vocal range in tracks like “Sally” & “Front Tooth,” we’re left to wonder what this bold & brash pop-star can’t do. If dancing your problems away is your go-to remedy, then we highly recommend trying out Remi Wolf’s Juno.
CHECK OUT REMI WOLF’S 2022 TOUR DATES HERE