Unwishing Well

Glenn Donaldsons prolific output with the Reds, Pinks & Purples often finds him writing songs that serve as mirrors for his own experience in the world of independent music, both in lyrical content and the jangle pop touchstones that inform the songs. 2023s The Town That Cursed Your Name was heavy on lyrics about struggling to survive as an artist, and Unwishing Well (released just about a year later) continues Donaldsons ruminations on life in the indie rock underground with songs that are reflective and subdued. At its most rambunctious, The Town That Cursed Your Name was reminiscent of the upbeat fuzziness of early Magnetic Fields. There are still traces of that here, as with the depressing yet bouncy "Learning to Love a Band" or the low-key pop of "Public Art." Far more often, however, Unwishing Well is spacious and atmospheric. "Your Worst Song Is Your Greatest Hit" layers foreboding synth textures, acoustic guitars, and unrecognizable distortion textures, creating a bedding for Donaldsons breathy baritone. Especially warped moments like "Faith in Daydreaming Youth" bring back some of the 4AD influence Donaldson explored on earlier RP&P albums, where the songs were more about ambience and mood than hooks. The feel of those songs, combined with something akin to the insular, germophobic style that Felt perfected, is evidenced in sad-hearted tunes like "We Only Hear the Bad Things People Say" and the gorgeous instrumental closer "Goodbye Bobby," which drifts by like the hours of a lonely afternoon. Unwishing Well continues the Reds, Pinks & Purples unbroken streak of inspired songs that allude to some of the greats that came before them while landing somewhere new. Its a softer, more cautious chapter than their last album, and more powerful for it. ~ Fred Thomas