The Punk Site 2021 Top 20: The Wildhearts – 21st Century Love Songs

At number 14 in The Punk Site‘s 2021 Top 20 are The Wildhearts with their tenth studio album, 21st Century Love Songs, that was released in September via Graphite Records, the album is the follow up to Renaissance Men, their highest charting album since 1994’s P.H.U.Q. “Renaissance Men reminded me of our first album, Earth Vs The Wildhearts. No one knew how the fans and press would receive it, so it was balls-to-the-wall rock and fuck ’em if they don’t like it. Going in again, for 21st Century Love Songs, naturally reminded me of our second album, PHUQ, where we got to flex our creative muscle, and show everyone what we’re capable of. This time we let the songs simmer until absolutely ready. We let the theme of the album present itself. There’s a subtlety to this album, something that people don’t often associate with The Wildhearts, and a sense of adventure in the unorthodox arrangements of the songs. This is where I become a fan of the band, when we ditch the rule book and just follow our instinct. Sarcastic, fun, angry, proud, experimental and belligerent, all wrapped up in a big ‘fuck you’, this is the sound of the band in their natural habitat. This time we’re in control.” (Ginger Wildheart)

“It always amazes me to find people who are unaware of this band. For the uninitiated, they are the band that should’ve been bigger than blah, blah, blah. They are to modern guitar based Hard Rock/Punk/Metal/Pop exactly what Prince was to Pop music before he disappeared up his own genius…except for the undeniably clear fact that this band still throw more into a single song than some bands put into an entire career. This enduring theme is still present on their latest release 21st Century Love Songs. Of the ten tracks on the standard release, seven are easily up there with anything they’ve ever recorded. Highlights are numerous, but Remember These Days, Splitter, Sleepaway, Sort Your Fu**ing Sh*t Out, You Do You, A Physical Exorcism and the title track, 21st Century Love Songs are everything songs should be – heavy, fast, dirty, melodic, creatively arranged, dynamic, life affirming, beautifully executed and wonderfully produced. The Wildhearts just don’t make a bad record (apart from the appalling wall of distorted noise that was Endless Nameless, which was recorded during another one of the bad times that seem to be another recurring theme in this band’s career). In summary, 21st Century Love Songs is the best album they’ve released since the previous album, Renaissance Men…Simply Stunning.” (Dolly Robinson, December 2021)

21st Century Love Songs can be streamed and purchased here