Wild Nothing, the dream-pop project by Jack Tatum, is back on the road this summer with a set of August dates that span the Northeast United States across the country to Northern California and down south for a few shows in Mexico. Approximately one week ago, Tatum announced on Instagram that this upcoming tour is likely his last for "some time", and that the set will include tracks from his entire catalogue. As this can only mean that a hiatus of some sort is on the horizon for Wild Nothing, I found it a fitting time to take a look back at Wild Nothing's most cherished works from his 14 year career.
- Gemini, 2010
Wild Nothing's debut album, Gemini, was released on May 25, 2010 to widespread praise. With this body of work, awash in reverb, jangly guitars, synthesizers, and airy vocals reminiscent of 1980's dream pop, Tatum pioneered a new modern wave of indie-pop, dream-pop, and shoegaze that captivated the 2010s indie music scene alongside bands like Beach Fossils, Mac Demarco, DIIV, Craft Spells, and Real Estate.
Sitting atop Wild Nothing's most popular songs on Spotify is "Chinatown" with over 27 million plays. Indeed, a standout track from Gemini, Chinatown boasts an infectious groove and a wanting refrain, juxtaposing an upbeat disposition with dejected lyricism.
- Golden Haze, 2010
Following the release of Gemini, Wild Nothing released Golden Haze, an EP, on October 12, 2010. On Golden Haze, Tatum embraces his shoegaze and dream-pop tendencies, building darker atmospheres with deeper sonic textures and despairing lyricism. This EP was recently repressed on vinyl with an additional track left off previous iterations, "Vultures Like Lovers".
"Your Rabbit Feet", a deep-cut from Wild Nothing's catalogue, is one of my personal favorites and one of, if not the most fan-requested song during Wild Nothing's live shows. This track is haunting, both catchy and yearning. I have been to nearly every Wild Nothing concert in New York over the past 10 years and at every show someone can be overheard saying, "I hope "Your Rabbit Feet" is on the setlist", or shouting "play "Your Rabbit Feet!"" from the crowd.
- Nocturne, 2012
Nocturne is the second full-length album in Wild Nothing's catalogue. This entry is most likely to be voted amongst fans as Wild Nothing's seminal work. Likely his most "complete" body of work, Nocturne propelled Wild Nothing forward. On Nocturne, Tatum surrenders to breathy, reverb washed vocals, deeply expressive string sections, shimmering synthesizers, twinkling guitars, and evocative lyrics that create a powerful plaintive atmosphere which blankets the entire record.
Title track "Nocturne" embodies everything Nocturne is.
- Empty Estate, 2013
On Empty Estate, an EP, Wild Nothing delves deeper into the world of synthesizers, experimenting with new sounds, song structures, and vocal deliveries while maintaining the longing lyricism that fans have come to expect. Empty Estate brings a new sonic dreamscape to Wild Nothing's catalogue borne out of Tatum's intent to push his sound forward through new inspiration. While I hesitate to use the word "experimentation" because it indicates, at least in my mind, a lack of intent and cohesiveness on the part of the artist, Empty Estate feels like a departure from Wild Nothing's previous entries. And while that may be true, Empty Estate feels fresh; like a cleanser, a reset, to prepare you for what comes next.
- Life of Pause, 2016
On Life of Pause, Wild Nothing brings forward a reinvented, polished sound reminiscent of Gemini. Tatum's lyricism, sentimental but detached, shines through on Life of Pause. Paired with a blissful sonic texture and sophisticated production, Life of Pause, at the time of its release, saw Wild Nothing at it's fullest bloom. Most strikingly at this juncture, Tatum sprinkles hints of jazz and disco throughout Life of Pause, accenting his well-known affinity for shimmering synths and reverb with saxophone riffs, pianos, and a few funky grooves.
- Indigo, 2018
In keeping with the pristine production and depth of 2016's Life of Pause, Indigo sees Tatum wear his 1980's era indie pop sensibilities on his sleeve. Undeviating, Indigo is filled with lush pop ballads featuring the usual cast of characters–rich bass, glistening guitars, and crystalline synths–while building on the introduction of the saxophone and grooves that we heard on Life of Pause. These elements combine to create a dense wall of sound for what ultimately feels like a lush homage to 1980s dream-pop with a modern twist. In many ways, Indigo feels like a natural progression to Life of Pause, the product of an artist that has mastered their craft.
- Laughing Gas, 2020
In 2020, Wild Nothing released Laughing Gas, a five-track EP featuring B-sides from 2018's Indigo. As such, Laughing Gas is reminiscent of the maximalist production, density, and glossiness of Indigo. A decade since the release of Gemini, which he recorded in his Virginia Tech dorm room, Laughing Gas is a glaring attestation to Tatum's progression as an artist; his emergence from the depths of a dimly lit university dorm room to comparatively lavish studios constructing sophisticated dream-pop compositions.
- Hold, 2023
In 2023, Wild Nothing returns after his longest break between full-length albums with Hold. Forging a new direction, Hold sees Tatum explore late 80s to early 90s pop with a nostalgic blend of electro-pop and dance grooves. While Hold is not the atmospheric, dream-pop aesthetic filled albums of his past, Hold feels like an album Tatum made for himself. As was Empty Estate, this record is a departure, but it feels fresh.
Wild Nothing has had an illustrious career suffused with expertly crafted and enduring atmospheric dream-pop ballads. Since Gemini, Tatum has masterfully explored the depths of heartbreak and yearning, and since Indigo, modernity, fatherhood, and life's adversities with deeply evocative instrumental compositions. As is often the case, however, life goes on. With Tatum's somewhat ominous announcement that this summer tour will likely be his last for a while, you can't help but think this might be it. If this is it, I know I'll be cherishing Tatum's incredible artistry and my memories associated with it at his upcoming Brooklyn, NY show, and for a number of the following years.
