History Music / WildBeasts

From the beginning a lot of attention was drawn towards Thorpe's peculiar vocals - which can be best summed up as an operatic falsetto prone to becoming heavily strained and throaty - that initially led to the group being dismissed as LoveItOrHateIt. However, the whimsical yet provocative nature of their songwriting, reverb-drenched guitars and tight rhythm section received favourable comparisons to TheSmiths. After signing to Domino the band recorded their debut album, 2008's ''Limbo, Panto'' with FranzFerdinand producer Tore Johannson, and was very much a showcase for these eccentricities.

* TheBeautifulGame: The theme of "Woebegone Wanderers".

* VocalEvolution: And how!

From the beginning a lot of attention was drawn towards Thorpe's peculiar vocals - which can be best summed up as an operatic falsetto prone to becoming heavily strained and throaty - that initially led to the group being dismissed as LoveItOrHateIt. However, the whimsical yet provocative nature of their songwriting, clean guitars and tight rhythm section received favourable comparisons to TheSmiths. After signing to Domino the band recorded their debut album, 2008's ''Limbo, Panto'' with FranzFerdinand producer Tore Johannson, and was very much a showcase for these eccentricities.

Album number three ''Smother'' (2011) stripped their sound down ever further, [[NewSoundAlbum introducing hazy electronic textures]] that often stray into PostRock territory alongside a more introspective tone in subject matter. Once again the reception has been overwhemingly positive, and the band's switch to a synth-orientated sound led to a high-profile collaboration with LadyGaga, remixing her track "You & I" to much acclaim.

* DarkReprise: "Two Dancers (ii)"

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which compared to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more synthetic in nature than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band opted for a more direct and in-your-face approach than its' precedessor, with the overall sound reminiscent of 80s' {{NewWave}} & {{SophistiPop}} combined with the trademark Wild Beasts touch. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

They followed it up a year later with ''Two Dancers'', which toned down the erratic tendencies of their music by placing a stronger emphasis on rhythm, with their overall style becoming more and more inspired by DreamPop in the process. Thorpe's singing voice too [[VocalEvolution became much more refined]] whilst retaining his distinctive falsetto, and [[VocalTagTeam has began to share vocal duties with the lower-registered Tom Fleming]]. [[GrowingTheBeard Many would agree this shift in direction was for the better]], as the album went on to receive rapturous acclaim as well as a Mercury Prize nomination in 2010 (which lost to former tourmates The xx, by the way).

Album number three ''Smother'' (2011) stripped their sound down ever further, [[NewSoundAlbum introducing dreamy electronic textures]] that often stray into PostRock territory alongside a more introspective tone in subject matter. Once again the reception has been overwhemingly positive, and the band's switch to a synth-orientated sound led to a high-profile collaboration with LadyGaga, remixing her track "You & I" to much acclaim.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which compared to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more synthetic in nature than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band opted for a more direct and in-your-face approach than its' precedessor, with the overall sound reminiscent of 80s' new wave & sophisti-pop combined with the classic Wild Beasts touch. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more synthetic in nature than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band opted for a more direct and in-your-face approach than its' precedessor, with the overall sound reminiscent of 80s' new wave & sophisti-pop combined with the classic Wild Beasts style. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

* TheQuietOne: Guitarist Benny Little is the only member who doesn't sing on their records.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more synthetic in nature than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band opted for a more direct and in-your-face approach than its' precedessor, and the overall sound is that of 80s' synth pop/new wave done Wild Beasts-style. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more synthetic in nature than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band opted for a more direct and in-your-face approach than its' precedessor, and is overall the closest thing they've done so far to making a pop record. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more electronic in style than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band aimed for more upbeat and direct approach than its' precedessor, and is overall the closest thing they've done to making a Wild Beasts pop record. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

They followed it up a year later with ''Two Dancers'', which toned down the erratic tendencies of their music by placing a stronger emphasis on rhythm, with their overall style becoming subtler and atmospheric in the process. Thorpe's singing voice too [[VocalEvolution became much more refined]] whilst retaining his distinctive falsetto, and [[VocalTagTeam has began to share vocal duties with the lower-registered Tom Fleming]]. [[GrowingTheBeard Many would agree this shift in direction was for the better]], as the album went on to receive rapturous acclaim as well as a Mercury Prize nomination in 2010 (which lost to former tourmates The xx, by the way).

** "Nature Boy" borrows its' title from the ringname of professional wrestler Ric Flair (a title previously used by Buddy Rogers), whilst the line "a little fun for me and none for you" is lifted directly from an interview with wrestler Jake 'The Snake' Roberts.

* ShoutOut: To Creator/MaryShelley's Literature/Frankenstein on "Bed of Nails".

* LyricalDissonance: "His Grinning Skull" is about a dead soldier's fiancee in mourning, only to reveal that she has ransacked his grave.

* BadFuture: According to the band, "Daughters" is about one.

* BadFuture: Apparently, "Daughters" is about one.

* TakeThat: The line "In your mother tongue, what's the verb to suck?" from "Wanderlust" is a swipe at British bands that sing in American accents. This was misinterpreted in an interview with Pitchfork as a scatching attack towards label mates Music/ArcticMonkeys, whose sound (not lyrics, as assumed) had become increasingly inspired by American rock.

From the beginning a lot of attention was drawn towards Thorpe's peculiar vocals - which can only be described as an operatic falsetto prone to becoming heavily strained and throaty - that initially led to the group being dismissed as LoveItOrHateIt. However, the whimsical yet provocative nature of their songwriting, clean guitars and tight rhythm section received favourable comparisons to TheSmiths. After signing to Domino the band recorded their debut album, 2008's ''Limbo, Panto'' with FranzFerdinand producer Tore Johannson, and was very much a showcase for these eccentricities.

* ShoutOut: To Mary Shelley's ''[[Literature/Frankenstein]]'' on "Bed of Nails".

* ShoutOut: To Mary Shelley's ''Literature/Frankenstein'' on "Bed of Nails".

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more electronic in style than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band aimed for more upbeat and direct approach than its' precedessor, and is overall to closest thing they've done to making a Wild Beasts pop record. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more electronic in style than ''Smother'' with guitars only used sparingly, the band aimed for more upbeat and direct approach than its' precedessor, and is to date to closest thing they've done to a Wild Beasts pop record. It also became their first to crack the top 10 album charts.

In 2014, the band announced the release of their fourth album ''Present Tense'', which in comparison to the relatively quick recording process of their previous work, took longer to gestate over a period of 18 months. Even more electronic in style than ''Smother'', the band aimed for more upbeat and direct approach than its' precedessor.