Wet
Don’t You
COLUMBIA
7/10
The lyrics are heavy: “Baby, please let go of me.” “I will take what I can get.” “I believe there are better things for me.” Sultry R&B beats and hypnotic synth lines swirl all around Wet’s debut album, but it’s these troubling internal monologues that keep Don’t You from simply being a we’re-about-to-get-it-on record. There’s an inherent amount of sadness within frontwoman Kelly Zutrau’s wispy falsetto as she pushes away every lover and ex-partner that she’s ever had throughout Don’t You’s eleven tracks. In numbers like “Small and Silver,” “Deadwater,” and “You’re the Best,” Zutrau opens her heart to listeners as she tries to hold onto any sense of self-worth in the face of betrayal and apathy. She feels enough for both parties in these fights, but she struggles to stand up for herself. Don’t You’s subject matter is brutal, but the record succeeds because it also isn’t a complete downer. Thanks to the balanced grooves of Marty Sulkow and Joe Valle, Wet is able to walk that very fine line of having their debut be a sensitive confessional and a sensual crowd pleaser. Either way, when you play it, make sure the lights are low.
