Remi Wolf Achieves Some Big Things on “Big Ideas”

Lately, I’ve seen some discourse about “fun pop” making a comeback with artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan blowing up in the past year. They resonated with fans because of the personality and flare that they bring to their music, even if the music itself occasionally falls into an algorithmic rhythm. Enter Remi Wolf. An artist who is authentic, colorful, and soulfully bizarre with her glamorous, funky, garage-pop sound. If it sounds like I’m over-describing her music, I’m not. Imagine a kaleidoscope, and you’ll get close to her newest album, Big Ideas.

The record starts off strong with “Cinderella,” complete with horns, sharp whistles, and a driving drum beat. The music video for the track further exemplifies the tone of the record, with Wolf dancing in a field as her legwarmers switch between vibrant colors every few beats.

“Cinderella” is followed by the rest of Wolf’s singles released ahead of the album. I’m not the biggest fan of having all the singles at the front of the record, as I like to be surprised early on. However, I must confess that “Soup” is a personal favorite of mine for its’ glistening, super-catchy chorus. “Motorcycle” one of the slower tracks on the album, leading into “Toro” and “Alone in Miami.” While “Toro” takes a more mainstream pop direction, “Alone in Miami” turns of the main road, into a grungier direction that builds until the very end of the song. Both songs are an impressive display of Wolf’s vocal range, and highlight the masterful writing, production, and effort that went into the album.

“Cherries & Cream” takes a welcome psychedelic turn, and Remi’s “Oo la las” are stuck in my head to this day. “Kangaroo” is another contender as my favorite song off the album, its prevalent cowbell bouncing along with the beat. And speaking of bouncing, “Pitiful” is a fun song that gets me dancing very time.

Next comes “Wave,” which once again provides a shift for Wolf, leaning into a bit of punk and a bit of reggae? Truly, the entire album defines genre, but these sonic soups (see what I did there?) are why I love Remi Wolf.

“When I Thought Of You” is a brief track, and perhaps the one that stays with me the least. Especially in light of its follow-up song, “Frog Rock,” which features an explosion of instrumentation. “Just The Start” once again seems to fall a bit short, especially considering that it’s the closing song (not including bonus track “Slay Bitch,” a celebratory techno song leading us out).

All in all, there’s a lot to love on Big Ideas. It feels like a celebration of the eclectic, from the unique genre blends to the bright, lush colors featured across the album and music videos. It’s playful and authentic, and everything to love.

Remi Wolf has a run of shows planned for this fall, check out all the dates here!

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