Album Review: Clouded by This Wild Life

Photo from Epitaph

Words by: Emily Racanelli

Let’s get ready to get mellow! The debut album by acoustic duo This Wild Life is breaking the barrier on what is considered to be pop punk. In a genre full of heart-pumping bass drums and lightning fast guitar solos, Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso somehow found a way to attract the same type of crowd with a totally different sound. Their debut album Clouded has surpassed all expectations, and I can honestly say there is not one song on it that isn’t spectacular. What makes this record so remarkable is the fact that the duo keeps things simple and still manages to reel in your attention for 40 minutes. Lead vocalist Jordan constantly stresses how important the lyrics are to his music, emphasizing how without a bunch of instruments in the background, the words stand out even more. Every aspect of the music has to be spot on. It is obvious that Jordan writes from a personal place, given you can hear the emotion in every word. 

This is evident in the chorus of “Bound to Break.” What starts as a verse in Jordan’s recognizably calm falsetto crescendos into a masochistic attack. It proclaims, “I’m reckless and selfish/I’m feeling defenseless/Even at my best/I’m still feeling like a mess.” Not only does Jordan’s voice get angrier, but so does the way he plays rhythm guitar. Each chord is strummed as if the next will break off the strings. It is relatable, emotional, and most importantly, personal. 

While Jordan is definitely spot on throughout this record, his partner-in-crime Anthony Del Grosso absolutely kills it on lead guitar. What he describes as “mindless fingerpicking” could more accurately be portrayed as mind-blowing. He is the backbone of each song on this album, livening it up with riffs in contrast to just playing chords. “No More Bad Days” and “405” are perfect examples of Del Grosso’s precision as a musician. The former provides a soft melody to Jordan’s quiet vocals. In contrast, the latter sounds more like a country riff and is played on an electric guitar. If you didn’t know any better, you would think it were two different people playing the guitar on those songs. His versatility is what makes This Wild Life so captivating. 

Speaking of versatility, I must commend the boys on how they incorporated other instruments into their acoustic album. “Roots and Branches,” my favorite song on the record, comes in with drums in the second verse. The irony is uncanny, given that verse hold some of the most heartbreaking, saddest lyrics but picks up tempo with the drums. It says, “Everyone left me all at once then/Honestly I couldn’t even blame them/I’ve been a shitty  friend.” It speaks to the irony of the act in itself, considering you wouldn’t expect two heavily tattooed guys to be playing such mellow music. (And you definitely wouldn’t expect a guy with a beard like Jordan’s to have such a high voice!) 

Not only do they incorporate drums, but also a string section, something rarely scene in the pop punk genre. Going back to “No More Bad Days,” you can hear the subtle strings playing over Del Grosso’s lead guitar. They gradually picks up until coming in full swing in the chorus as Jordan reaches a new range in his vocals. 

Clouded is perfection because of the placement. The acoustic guitars shine through and know when to take a back seat to the string section. Drums make occasional appearances, but not so much as to overpower Jordan’s voice. What would I like to see in the next album? Del Grosso should be given a more prominent role in backing vocals, as his voice harmonizes well with Jordan’s falsetto.

I commend This Wild Life on their ability to challenge the conventions of pop punk and captivate the same fan base as heavy metalcore bands. I can’t wait to see what’s next!