Hozier’s sophomore album ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ beats the odds

The sophomore curse is something at the back of every band and artist’s mind. Coming out with a second album that flops after a successful first is truly nerve-wracking.

Hozier’s “Wasteland, Baby!” is the furthest thing from a flop and is a world of a difference from his first record.

While his first album gave him the reputation of a tall, woody mountain man, “Wasteland, Baby!” is the mountain man’s mysterious and sexy twin brother.

It’s a rare occurrence that I absolutely fall in love with every single song on an album, and Hozier’s sophomore album had me begging for more.

Song after song held something different, but the dark vibe was still under the surface making the sound unanimous but unique.

At the tail end of 2018, Hozier released an EP starring “Nina Cried Power” featuring Mavis Staples. It also called on music legends such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, James Brown and Bob Dylan.

When I first listened to this release, I was absolutely blown away and enthralled by the vocals and magnetism the track demanded.

This epic single transitions into a pop-y “Almost (Sweet Music)” that makes you want to dance.

Compared to his first album, “Wasteland, Baby!” combines ethereal choral vocals and moving rhythms, seducing your ears and your very soul. A perfect example of this is “Movement.”

“Shrike” transcends you into another world, above the clouds like the bird. It’s incredibly moving and uplifting with its innocently sweet guitar.

It’s been five long years since Hozier released his debut self-titled album, and I pray that we don’t have to wait that long for more from his angelic and rustic artistry.

Hozier, musical genius, created an absolute masterpiece with “Wasteland, Baby!” and blew his first album out of the water.