Wet Leg

Week 31: The K’s- Pretty on the Internet

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My introduction to the Merseyside band came from a Mod film from 2020, and I’ve also been following several mutual fans on Twitter, so I have been in the loop, so to speak. I didn’t realise how good they were until I saw their cameo in the film. I’m shocked it took four more years to release their debut album, which I’ll discuss shortly. This band is phenomenal, and for me, they are the next Arctic Monkeys. “Pretty on the Internet” proves that. 


So their debut was titled “I Wonder if the World Knows?”, released only last year, which did not get the credit until after its release, but never reached the top spot. I do not know why. It is brilliant. You can see why the guitar-driven indie rock reached No. 3. It was always going to be tough when they faced stiff competition from Beyoncé and fellow rockers The Libertines. Both of the latter reached the top spot.

Here is how good it really was: it was named the second biggest debut record of 2024. You can see why the second album has soared to the top spot. They are growing a devout fanbase and have the passion and drive to be a success. As mentioned in the Wet Leg review, it is always a challenge to exceed expectations on the second record, but The K’s have done that.


They have started where they left off with “Pretty on the Internet”. They have found their identity, which includes melodic guitar riffs over a powerful and fast-tempo wall of sound. Akin to their counterparts, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, The Coral, DMAs, bands like that.

However, underneath all the noise, is frontman and chief songwriter Jamie Boyle’s more delicate nature as he writes songs that are laced with vulnerability and honesty.

Something that will be highlighted in the following paragraph. His lyricism relates to the listener, and his vocals are strong and clear. Showing his ability to write songs in the background and lead the band onstage.


Returning to Jamie’s vulnerability and honesty. That shines through on the lead single ‘Breakdown in My Bedroom’. He addresses, with frank honesty, his struggles with mental health. Saying that, even though he is in the limelight, he tries to hide his actual emotional state underneath his onstage persona. Then we have anthemic tracks like ’The Bends(Here We Go Again)’, which shows the band’s ability to craft melodies, and choruses that the crowd will be singing back to them during their live performances on their forthcoming tour. At present, I believe they are also doing the festival circuit. This is why the atmosphere during their gigs is electric. The record is set to be played in full during five gigs next month.


The album isn’t just all about guitar solos or pulsing drums. There are more tender moments as heard on ‘Helen, Oh, I’, where strings and the pianos are at the heart of the track. It gives you a chance to catch your breath from a record that is otherwise going at 100mph. I love the synchronisation between Boyle’s reflective lyrics and the exemplary instrumental arrangements. They have treaded new ground with some more introspective tracks, and I do not doubt that they will continue to explore that.


The album closes with ‘Perfect Haunting’, a track that further pushes their horizons as they flirt with a more theatrical sound. It’s something to look forward to on future tracks as they show their expanding versatility. The band fuses pop-punk rhythms and raw energy with punchy rock, flavoured with indie songwriting by Jamie.

And it’s this unique blend that is not only proving popular among their peers but also attracting a growing fanbase. As they look to rise through the ranks, it’s clear that you, as part of this movement, are in for an exciting journey.


The band are not interested in being a band for nostalgia, but rather rhythms and hooks that belong in the now. They are also outshining their peers with their distinctive wall of sound. With two outstanding records under their belts, watch them grow from support acts to headliners. I thoroughly enjoyed the listen, and I think you will too.


Song recommenations: ‘The Bends(Here We Go Again)’, ‘Breakdown in My Bedroom’, ‘Perfect Haunting’

9/10

Week 15: Wet Leg- Wet Leg

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Yes, I know it is yet another cliché moment. I DID discover Wet Leg while watching Later…with Jools Holland in November last year. 

They performed their famous hit ‘Chaise Longue’, which I found extremely funny for its lyrical content, but I also loved its raw, punky sound, and the ladies singing had those typical punk vocals.

The duo hails from the Isle of Wight and consists of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. Of course, other members feature on the album, but they are regarded as session musicians and touring members. 

Going back to ‘Chaise Longue’, it was refreshing to hear a track that wasn’t by some fucking idiot who has no business in music just because their song went viral on TikTok because of some shit dance craze. ‘Chaise Longue’ is known for its bassline and guitar riffs instrumental-wise, but the lyrics are delivered with deadpan by leading vocalist and guitarist Rhian taking quotes from the film Mean Girls. Like I said earlier, I found some of the lyrics quite funny, especially the one about going to school and not learning anything but having sex (Listen to the song. You know what I mean.). The chorus wasn’t that great, with “On the Chaise Longue” repeated throughout, but somehow, it becomes a catchy hook that adds to the track.

I then listened to the band via live performances on YouTube during the earlier part of this year, and I was highly impressed by what I heard. The songs are short, but whereas some might describe them as Indie, they have more of the punk spirit. Funnily enough, I felt like I was listening to Amyl and the Sniffers sans the Australian accents.

I saw a tweet from the duo saying their self-titled debut was about to go to number one, and I was delighted to hear what the album sounded like. Unfortunately, I didn’t have to listen much because I had already heard the songs featured on their promotional tour. However, I checked out the streaming figures on Spotify and was amazed that they had amassed 13 million streams! I could not believe just how widespread this duo was when most of the videos on YouTube were them playing in dinghy bars and pubs. Although they have yet to do any significant events or play at big venues, they have done the Late night chat shows in America and were voted runners-up in the BBC Sounds of 2022 poll. Because of ‘Chaise Longue’, many will say that Wet Leg might not be more than just a fleeting moment. However, I disagree with them. The duo have other songs in their arsenal. Okay, they might be on the same level sonically and lyrically, but it is more than just one hit.

Okay, I may have gone overboard saying they are punk. They are like a soft version of punk. You can’t even say they are pop-punk because they sound nothing like bands like Green Day. They remind me of Lush, who were around in the 90s (If you can’t remember, there are videos of their performance of ‘Lady Killers’ on the short-lived Channel 4 show, the White Room. They have that same element of punk. I wouldn’t call them energetic rebellion as I have done for IDLES or shame. Staying with punk, their producer for the debut happens to be Dan Carey, who has produced for Fontaines DC, no less. You’re always onto a winner when Dan is involved. I recommend it if you have yet to hear Fontaines DC’s first two albums. The only difference between Wet Leg and Lush, I will even throw in Shampoo (Remember ‘Trouble’?) into the mix, is that the lyrical content is more based on 21st-century themes. 

For example, ‘Being in Love’ over punky guitars turns to delicate strumming as the song changes the subject mood. So, the music goes from, I imagine, Rhian/Hester or both being infatuated to them suffering from anxiety about the possibility of being hurt. The second example is ‘Too Late Now’, which, funnily enough, closes the album, whereas ‘Being in Love’ started it. This time, however, the girls feel alone and fret about missing out on opportunities. There is even a breakdown in the track where Rhian says, “I’m not sure if this is a song/I don’t even know what I’m saying/I’m not sure if this is the kind of life that I saw myself living” Now, I am not sure if she is talking about that music wasn’t the planned destination of her career, but it is powerful nonetheless.

You then have the psychedelic element on ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’, like David Bowie’s ‘Hallo Spaceboy’.Although, Rhian talks about being in their late 20s and still living it up. ‘Angelica’ is about a girl at a party who thoroughly hates the idea of being there, and ‘Oh No’ seems to be about an individual trying to control a panic attack.

There are, of course, the punk tracks, which I mentioned earlier (Not the tracks. The element.) ‘Supermarket’ made me laugh because who hasn’t been stoned while shopping in one? Especially when you got the munchies. Then there is ‘Wet Dream’. That one doesn’t need a genius to work out the theme. Songs like these are more sinister than ‘Chaise Longue’, but their wit remains. One line that made me laugh on ‘Loving You’ was “I hope you choke on your girlfriend”. 

I also have to big up ‘Ur Mum’ just for the title alone, but the song is hilarious and reminds me of when I was young and using it as a light-hearted insult. That was my favourite, and it has been my favourite since I watched them perform a whole set via YouTube. 

I loved their debut. Okay, I didn’t have to listen to much of it because I had heard most of the songs performed live before its release. But it is an enjoyable, witty, sarcastic, punky record. The only qualm for me is that it needed to be longer.

Song recommendations: ‘Ur Mum’, ‘Supermarket’, ‘Loving You’

8/10