Review: Wishkicker - Wider Vision

There are some albums that if released now would have a similar impact as they did than when they initially came out.  Imagine hearing The Strokes' Is This It, The Breeders' Last Splash, or even Elastica’s self-titled release today? The songs would certainly stand up and the production choices wouldn’t have aged them as they were done in a purposeful aesthetic to remain out of the era they were created.  Vancouver’s Wishkicker released their sophomore EP Wider Visions this past Saturday, but I feel if it had come out twenty years down the road the mark it leaves on the listener would not be any different.

The band’s influences loom large on each song. “Straight to Over” races out of the gates with shades of Surfer Rosa era Pixies. “Main Line” comfortably could’ve been included on the self-titled Blur record and “Big Trouble” echoes the earliest Strokes albums. They’ve also included a fun cover of The Vaseline’s take on Divine’s “You Think You’re A Man” to close out the EP.  Wishkicker definitely has their touchstones but they also have a strong grasp at the kinds of songs they want to create that they don’t come off like lesser versions of these touchstones. Sure there are nods to other acts but this material is strong enough to stand on it’s own and the production of Little Red Sound’s Felix Fung stays just enough out of the way of the songs that it really allows you to feel it, physically as well as emotionally, when they connect.

Wider Visions is a blast. It’s full of youthful exuberance, solid musicianship and, above all, top-notch songwriting. It would be an injustice for it to be labeled as a throwback as this release should remain as fresh as it is today for many years to come.

Wishkicker just performed their album release show this past Saturday at the Fox Cabaret in Vancouver.