Can a self-portrait be a collage? Can empathy be autobiographical? What’s the point of living if we’re
not trying to understand all the horror and humor that surrounds everything? These are a few of the
questions lurking under the bleachers of Wednesday’s new album Bleeds, an intoxicating collection of
narrative-heavy Southern rock that—like many of the most arresting passages from the North
Carolina band’s highlight reel so far—thoughtfully explores the vivid link between curiosity and
confession.
Bleeds is not only the best Wednesday record—it’s also the most Wednesday record, a patchwork-style
triumph of literary allusions and outlaw grit, of place-based poetry and hair-raising noise. Karly
Hartzman—founder, frontwoman, and primary lyricist—credits Wednesday’s tightened grasp on
their own identity to time spent collaborating on previous albums, plus a tour schedule that’s been
both rewarding and relentless. “Bleeds is the spiritual successor to Rat Saw God, and I think the
quintessential ‘Wednesday Creek Rock’ album,” Hartzman said, articulating satisfaction with the
ways her band has sharpened its trademark sound, how they’ve refined the formula that makes them
one of the most interesting rock bands of their generation. “This is what Wednesday songs are
supposed to sound like,” she said. “We’ve devoted a lot of our lives to figuring this out—and I feel
like we did.”