The Wet Darlings

Together since 2008, The Wet Darlings spent their formative years writing and self-releasing a duo of EPs, X (2010) and So Long, Lover (2011) to regional acclaim, being named as one of the coveted Bands To Watch by hometown alternative rag Columbus Alive in 2011. That same year, they saw their first taste of radio success with their single “Big Ups” being in the top 5 most requested songs for over a month on WWCD 102.5 FM. While “Bicycle” from their first EP has garnered well over 1.5 million streams.

The early momentum inspired the band to write and produce a full-length album that could play on par with any of their own favorite records. Stupidly ambitious, considering the lo-fi treatment has been their hometown Columbus, Ohio’s sound du jour for far more than one du jour. The 11 song Beautiful Things took over two years to see to completion.

Singer Jenny Lute showcases her innate ability to sound confident and vulnerable at the same time, while guitarist Bill Patterson spends the entire record blurring the lines between guitars and synths, feedback and noise. Bass and drums (Joe Patterson & Aaron Bishara respectively) provide a rhythm section steeped in low-end that somehow manages to be orchestrated but still visceral. It’s too polished to sound punk but too fuzzy to feel tame.