The Wombats - “Is This What It Feels Like to Feel Like This?” EP Review

Story posted December 5, 2022 in Arts & Entertainment by Brianna Cavalieri.

Many indie-pop artists have their five seconds of fame and then are no longer capable of pleasing fans. The Wombats have discovered a way to captivate the engagement of listeners and be exceptional enough to never lose them while still acquiring more fans.

The Wombats keep getting better and better. Their creativity is astounding after forming the band almost 20 years ago. In January of this year, they released the album, “Fix Yourself, Not The World” which topped the charts, and before year’s end, they released a perfectly put-together EP.

The EP, “Is This What It Feels Like to Feel Like This?” demonstrated experimentation from the English band with their portrayal of classic indie and alternative pop. The songs were originally written for their album released in January.

Every single song is just as good as the last and there’s not one track on this EP that feels carelessly put-together or rushed. They have proven, yet again, that they are able to curate incredibly catchy songs with powerful and expressive lyrics.

The EP begins with “I Think My Mind Has Made Its Mind Up” which dives into a heavier, new sound from The Wombats. This sound is unique but it’s just as catchy as their usual tracks. The song talks about a breakup and the lead singer, Matthew Murphy, needing to put himself first.

The opening to the EP is The Wombats' way of telling their fans that they are slightly shifting away from the indie sound. It’s a new era. The song’s well-produced and the lyrics are filled with emotion.

“Dressed To Kill” takes the tempo up a notch and there’s so much going on. This track will most definitely make the listener tap along with the beat.

“Demon” has an immediate change of tone and mood bringing a more mature sound to the EP. The lyrics are more serious than the rest and it’s the only song to feature an acoustic guitar. Fans are used to light-hearted lyrics from The Wombats, but this track switches it up with emotion-filled lyrics.

The title track, “Is This What It Feels Like to Feel Like This?” brings the energy back with a strong chorus and a melody that has feel-good energy. Murphy stated that he got the idea for this song while driving past a rundown hotel and was wondering what could be going on there. This is the type of song that would be very powerful in a live performance.

“Same Old Damage” switches the tone again with a beat that’s heavier on the piano and has a darker tone than The Wombats usually produce. This track shows off Murphy’s vocal range extremely well while keeping the raw feel of the song and ending off strong.

The final song, “Good Idea at the Time” starts off slow and keeps progressing until it ties the entirety of the EP together and leaves the listener longing for more.

Pushing their boundaries, The Wombats created a beautiful work of art yet again and made sure to express to the world that they are still relevant.

The ups and downs stay relevant to the main theme so they don’t feel out of place when they have completely different sounds. This EP has the perfect mix of energy and calm to keep the listener on their toes and wanting more.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Demon,” “Good Idea at the Time”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: N/A

Brianna Cavalieri is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email bmc6284@psu.edu.