Goddamn Wolves are being honest by writing well and by sticking together. The Raleigh, N.C.-based trio returns to their indie rock roots somewhat on their new single “So Long,” taken from their “The DOOM EP,” but they do so with a bittersweet, precision-cut tune that’s equal parts elegiac and controlled.
Written while the world was mired in the disorienting stillness of the COVID lockdown, “So Long” captures some of the emotional aftertaste of that detachment, distance, the sublime, and the slow burn of letting go. From being a cassette tape-swapping project between Chris Weilding and Laura McCullough, this record has evolved into a heartfelt indie rock revelation, further enhanced by the introduction of live drums courtesy of Drew Foglia. Chris and Laura pass the lead back and forth with remarkable emotional clarity, their voices glancing against each other like old friends caught between closure and longing. The male/female vocal play feels like the only way the story could be told.
The group remains loyal to their alt-rock roots. Hints of Pixies and the New Pornographers are carried in the arrangement, but the Wolves aren’t ones to mimic. Instead, they turn those influences into a crisp, melody-driven sound that tiptoes into pop territory yet remains firmly entrenched in indie rock credibility.
The outro is really an applause all of its own. A warm, three-part harmony sung together by all three members envelops the song in one last layer of bittersweet resolution, more a hug than a goodbye. It’s a simple yet potent reminder of what happens when band chemistry, songwriting, and feelings align perfectly. “So Long” is doing more than merely regurgitating pandemic isolation as art. It’s translating that isolation into something musical, meaningful, and cathartic. Goddamn Wolves have written a song that manages to be both infectious and thoughtful and never puts a foot wrong.
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