THE WOMBATS - FIX YOURSELF, NOT THE WORLD
Offering a light at the end of the tunnel, Fix Yourself, Not The World showcases The Wombats in all of their remote glory, recording the album online while being scattered across the globe.
PHOTO: Tom Oxley
On January 14th, The Wombats released their fifth album, Fix Yourself, Not The World, the first of which to be recorded remotely with the trio being scattered across the globe. The album sends lots of messages of helping oneself as well as struggles one may face on a day to day basis. An album like this helps to allow people to better understand their feelings, and what they may be going through at the time and use that to help them heal and help others along the way. The album, in its title alone, can serve as a list of things to think about later on, and things that will stick with listeners for years to come.
The first track, ‘Flip Me Upside Down’ opens with a poppy bass riff before the vocals come in. Upon first listen, this track seems just like something out of a ‘00’s comedy movie intro, and the energy stays throughout the track and in the chorus. It’s hard not to get up and dance to the beat that fills this song, which gives great contrast to the next.
‘This Car Drives All By Itself’ has already received tons of airplay on stations such as AltNation. The band told DIY Magazine the meaning is synonymous with life in the sense that we just move on with life, even if we aren’t as in control as we would like to believe. Even including the line. “I see the tunnel at the end of the light,” as a play on seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when reaching closer to our inevitable death.
‘Everything I Love is Going to Die’ is all about appreciating the things you have while you have it and being aware that one day you will lose it all. This is especially true when you realize nothing in the world is certain, and things can change for the better or for worse in the matter of seconds, and this track does a good job at displaying that in terms that can stick with people.
The album ends with the title track ‘Fix Yourself, Not The World.’ The track expresses not wanting to lose who you are for the happiness of others, and wanting to be the person you are, and what you enjoy to appease others. The track dies off slowly only repeating the one line, ending the album on a note that you come before anyone else. One could also take from the track that one cannot help others without first helping themself. It’s an absolutely beautiful way to end the album, and instrumentals and vocals combined help to give this track a dreamlike sound.
Niki Davidson
★★★★☆