Big Ideas by Remi Wolf bursts with sunny, messy joy – the haphazard brightness of late teens and early 20s shines in every song. For fans of Reneé Rapp and Chappell Roan’s fun, “popstar pop”, and for fans of beabadoobee and Big Thief’s distinctively indie sound, Remi Wolf is the perfect listen. Originally launching her career on American Idol, Remi Wolf has hit massive heights of success. Her new album has been reviewed by NME and Pitchfork, and she was interviewed by Rolling Stone. But before you check out the many reviews and interviews, start with Nouse’s review of Big Ideas by Remi Wolf.
The album opens with ‘Cinderella’, which feels quintessentially summery. Fun, familiar sound effects peppered in the background, Wolf sets up her new album as perfectly aligned with the feeling of riding a bike in hot weather. ‘Soup’ is next and stands out from the rest. An obvious pop anthem, you can’t help but sing it out whenever it plays. It shares the same sense of brightness that the Barbie movie had – all fun, no solemnity. This is definitely one to sing loud while drunk at a party.
Following the upbeat ‘Soup’ is the slower, more sensual ‘Motorcycle’. It’s a tale of soft romance and there is a welcome sleepiness to the gentle tune. Next is ‘Toro’, which reminds me of much of Reneé Rapp’s work – it has that same inescapable catchiness. On first listen, it feels a little generic but by the end of the song, you remember that there’s a reason so many people make this type of song.
‘Alone in Miami’ has a hilarious first line: ‘Soak up the sound of Crypto Bros’. Really, all the lyrics in this song are spectacular, capturing such a specific vibe of fame in Miami. Musically, it’s a great tune, but all I could think was, ‘She’s so cool!’. ‘Cherries & Cream’ has equally hilarious lyrics: ‘But you taste like cherries and cream / Tangerine, avocado / Yeah I'm allergic but I like it a lot’.
Remi Wolf knows how to make a head bopper, and ‘Kangaroo’ is just that. Sometimes, you listen to a song and just know it would be amazing live. It’s easy to learn and sing along to, and features a saxophone. Every song with a saxophone in immediately goes up by one star in my ratings.
‘Pitiful’ is the song for struggling uni students and graduates – yes, I hear what I’m saying. The difficulty of dealing with a “break”, no matter whether it’s a relationship or graduation, is summarised perfectly. ‘Wave’ is a real highlight, with an indescribable cross-genre element to it. It’s a mix of jazz, rock, emo and pop and has Wolf exploring her lower range; something the album had not yet touched upon. ‘When I Thought of You’, a slightly slower track, and ‘Slay Bitch’, another high pop bonus track, weren't stand-out, but are still good pop songs.
‘Frog Rock’ is a classically 2024 indie rock song in the best possible way; elements of beabadoobee’s style mix perfectly with Remi Wolf’s own. The album closes out on ‘Just the Start’, a title which is clearly applicable to Remi Wolf’s rapidly busying career. It’s more home-produced than the rest of the album, in a cosy, Big Thief-like style. The repetition of ‘it won’t / don’t catch me’ hits hard and cements the track as a memorable closer.
Remi Wolf is clearly making her way up in the music industry at an incredible rate, down to her obvious talent for jazzy pop hits. In December, she will be performing in the UK, with all tour dates on her website: https://www.remiwolf.com. Big Ideas is making big waves, and indie pop fans better stand to attention – a new star has made her way into the big leagues.
