Wasteland, Baby!

by Hozier

Overview

Hozier's great trick is how he hangs suspended between past and present, drawing upon old forms without sounding traditional. This gift is what fueled "Take Me to Church," a bit of protest neo-gospel that became an unexpected international blockbuster in 2014 -- a success so great, the Irish singer/songwriter was in no need to hurry up with a sequel. He certainly took his time to release Wasteland, Baby!, a sophomore set delivered nearly a half-decade after his debut. Given that lengthy gap, it's appropriate that Wasteland, Baby! feels considered, its every move telegraphing a deliberate decision. That's as true of Hozier's lyrics -- which use Nina Simone and Duke Ellington as signifiers, tying him to a heritage that's not quite his own -- as it is of the ruminative music, which feels contemplative even when the tempo quickens. Hozier may be moody but he doesn't dodge happiness, nor does he avoid modern accouterments. These two trends culminate on "Nobody," a lightly rolling piece of pop-soul that seems nearly ebullient in this context, but even his melancholy moments feel open-hearted. Much of this draws from the same well as "Take Me to Church" -- there's more than a hint of soul and gospel, tempered with arty arena rock that's drawn equally from U2 and Peter Gabriel -- but the overall feeling isn't anguished, it's consoling. It's a subtle but notable shift that lends emotional gravity to a singer/songwriter who already favored weighty topics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	07/19/2024
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0198028187510
Rank:	1747

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hozier   Primary Artist
Mavis Staples   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Paul Clarvis   Bells,Shaker,Tambourine
Lorraine Cato   Vocals (Background)
Lynn Mabry   Vocals (Background)
Markus Dravs   Bass,Juno,Drums,Clapping,Castanets,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass
Matt Bauder   Cornet,Sax (Baritone)
Robbie Nelson   Drums,Fender Rhodes
Alex Ryan   Wurlitzer,Percussion,Tambourine,Synthesizer,Bass (Vocal),Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Bass),Musical Director,Synthesizer Bass,Bass,Toms,Drums,Piano,Snaps,Guitar,Cowbell,Clapping,Castanets,Keyboards
Booker T. Jones   Organ
Suzanne Santo   Violin
Judith Hill   Vocals (Background)
Jackie Farris   Vocals (Background)
Priscilla Jones-Campbell   Vocals (Background)
Sarah Lynch   Violin
Rory Doyle   Toms,Drums,Snaps,Cowbell,Clapping,Castanets,Kick Horns,Percussion,Tambourine
Jackie Gouche   Vocals (Background)
Lurine Cato   Vocals (Background)
Aaron Redfield   Drums
Neil Catchpole   Violin
Andrew Hozier-Byrne   Piano,Snaps,Bongos,Fiddle,Guitar,Shaker,Vocals,Beatbox,Cowbell,Clapping,Castanets,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Tambourine,Co-Producer,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Toms,Bells,Drums,Organ
Buddy Ross   Juno,Noise,Piano,Celeste,Moog Bass,Wurlitzer,Organ,Piano,Celeste,Keyboards,Orchestra
Kate Urcioli   Trombone
Jessica Berry   Keyboards
Cormac Curran   Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Iain Berryman   Clapping,Castanets,Percussion

Technical Credits

Andrew Scheps   Mixing,Vocal Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Paul Clarvis   Whip
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Markus Dravs   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer,Drum Programming,String Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Mike Crossey   Mixing,Vocal Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Alex Ryan   Drum Sounds,Composer,Lyricist
Ariel Rechtshaid   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Rob Kirwan   Engineer,Producer,Recording
Shawn Everett   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Ben Tolliday   Engineer,Recording
Chris Kasych   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Danny Loughran   Engineer,Recording
Rory Doyle   Drum Sounds
Nathaniel Graham Tensen Woolery   Assistant Engineer
Fergal Davis   Mastering Engineer
Matt Colton   Mastering Engineer
Jim Carroll   Assistant
Nick Rowe   Editing,Vocal Editing
Andrew Hozier-Byrne   Artwork,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Drum Sounds,Art Direction,Drum Programming
Raine Hozier-Byrne   Art Direction,Cover Painting
Ivan Wayman   Assistant,Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Misha Hercules   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
John DeBold   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Amak Golden   Engineer,Recording
Jim Caroll   Assistant Engineer
Nathanael Graham   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Buddy Ross   Amplifiers
Stephen Sesso   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Associate Remixing Engineer
Robbie Nelson   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Lucy Nuzum   Photography
Rachel Blum   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John Webber   Mastering Engineer
PJ Ronan   Assistant Engineer
Steve Pattinson   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Nathaniel Graham   Assistant Engineer
Dave Schiffman   Engineer
Mark James   Design
Iain Berryman   Engineer,Producer