Album Review: fanclubwallet - 'You Have Got To Be Kidding Me'
fanclubwallet is rocking the indie scene with her debut album ‘You Have Got To Be Kidding Me’.
Named after a Dennis the Menace wallet that her father owned, fanclubwallet is the project of Canadian artist Hannah Judge. With the release of her EP 'Hurt Is Boring' and its opening track 'Car Crash in G Major' reaching six and a half million streams on its own, Judge's debut album 'You Have Got To Be Kidding Me' is your reason to call into work sick next week.
THE FADER got it right when describing fanclubwallet's music, "charmingly lo-fi indie rock that … worms its way into your head.". Judge began writing for the debut album at the start of the pandemic. A difficult time that was made worse as she also broke up with her boyfriend, dropped out of university and moved back home to Ottawa to live with her parents. Initially aiming to work on her comics, Judge delved further into her music, determined to keep going and, with the help of a grant, finished the album with childhood friend Michael Watson.
The album kicks off with the track' Solid Ground'. With faded voice notes, spacey guitar and drums that remind me of the Gorillaz, there is a feeling of constant movement attached to this song, forcing you to get up and walk. Reminiscing, Judge is longing for the feelings of being with someone but not the person as she sings, 'Sometimes you miss, sleeping next to them even if you, don't miss them anymore.
Mellow and warm 'Fell Through' reminds me of the collaboration project Hailaker, with every noise having a purpose. Twinkling guitar and a playful synth glide around Judge's voice as she sings, 'the rain comes down, hits me faster than feelings could'. Judge's lyrics are intimate and honest as they come out as a stream of consciousness. With no set structure, she listens to the instruments and allows them to construct the narrative, leading to these euphoric tracks.
'06 55' is the album's sixth track, and I can't stop listening to it. With a repetitive car alarm and indicators, the track transitions smoothly with each addition of instrumentation. With steady drums, electric orchestral synth and the distant patter of rain, no lyrics are needed for this track. It's charming and romantic, as I can imagine driving through a storm with a loved one; however, feeling no fear as '06 55' soothes my nerves.
A slow groove and xylophone sprinkles bring a wave of nostalgia to 'Coming Over'. Following the dreamy 'National TV', this track has a more explicit narrative than the earlier songs on the album. Saddened by her ex's new love, Judge heads over to his parent's house, realising that there is no space for her, as his new love has taken it. A brutal way for reality to sink in, acoustic guitar settles Judge and winds down the track.
'You Have Got To Be Kidding Me' is a whirlwind of emotions. From the bright synth and distorted guitar in ‘Trying To Be Nice’ to the melancholy lyrics in ‘Jar’, there is a song for every moment. Expect to have her tunes stuck in your head; they won’t be leaving any time soon.
Words. by Amy Mealing
