ALBUM REVIEW: Wall Of Stars – Ridgeway

Californian rock outfit RIDGEWAY are back with their third studio album Wall Of Stars. The quartet are known for their alternative rock sound that takes on elements from 90s rock, grunge and indie to create something that is as comforting as it is pleasant to listen to.

The band begin with Alex Is Back, a track that opens with a feel-good and slightly bouncy intro of drums, guitar and bass creating something that feels like it has been lifted straight out of the late 90s or early 00s indie scene, whilst also drawing on some grunge elements from the same era. Perhaps the most accurate way to describe most of the songs on Wall Of Stars is moody, with some tracks falling into the trap of blending into one another – as is the case with Earthquake and Troubleshooter for example – yet there is no reason to hate this as it feels like a beautiful long track as opposed to something that drags.

That’s not to say that every song is just moody and that’s it; sure the vibe mostly falls under that, but there are other aspects to enjoy here too. Some standout moments include Book End, a comforting song that starts out as something melancholic yet gradually becomes more uplifting, perhaps as something to represent the feeling of hope within reality; You Got High, a track that shifts away from the rock and grunge sound they’ve been mostly going with into something more along the lines of pop-rock and, thanks to the opening guitar, brings to mind ALANIS MORISETTE’s Hand In My Pocket; and Winding, a track that has a solid instrumental breakdown at the end with some elements that feel quite reminiscent of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.

As for the other songs on Wall Of Stars, they tend to fall under the category of 90s-inspired rock and grunge; it sounds nice, but they’re not necessarily as memorable when trying to think back on them. That’s not a huge problem though; as mentioned, the songs tend be quite comforting – relaxing even – and they still create a moody atmosphere even if they may not stand out so much individually.

So overall, Wall Of Stars is a pleasant-sounding album that may be rather repetitive and one note throughout but still manages to be largely enjoyable.

Rating: 7/10

Wall Of Stars is out now via Neon Bloodbath Records.

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