Why? is a hard band to pin down. In simplest terms they are an alternative hip hop /
indie rock group, but they’re more complicated than that. A band with an almost
impressionist nature that’s sometimes rap, sometimes folk, with a vocalist with a distinct
nasal heavy delivery. Formed in 2004 by frontman Jonathan “Yoni” Wolf (who had been
using Why? as a personal stage name for seven years prior). The album we’ll be
discussing is their second full LP, entitled Alopecia.
Sex and death. These are the pervasive themes that flow throughout the album. While
Yoni rarely spells things out in an sensical or detailed way, the feelings will be conveyed in
nearly every stanza. The lyrics will come off as a stream of consciousness collection of
phrases, but they serve more like personal revelations woven together to create an
overarching feeling. The odd word play works off the strong melodies and the simple, but
captivating, instrumentation.
It might seem like he’s just droning on spouting gibberish, but Yoni is baring his soul in
the lines and the feelings between them. His mortality, relationship failures, feelings of
emptiness, but also braggadocio and odd sarcastic quips. There will be verses that make
you laugh, some will make you cringe, and, more often than not, make you feel his raw
emotion.
I chose not to focus much on the instrumentation and the backdrop. It is by no means
something that should be glossed over, but personally I find the strength of the album lies in
the words flowing overtop it. When listening to Why? I find myself picking apart the word
play, while the music keeps the train on the tracks. I know some of you are less into
lyricism than I am, but I feel the band does a good job creating a tapestry for Yoni's verbal
impressionist paintings.
This is a very solid piece of art. While it won't be for everyone, it is a unique sound and a unique
voice. It is an eccentric work, one that stands alone in today's indie-sphere. Why listen to Why?
Because something so fresh, something so odd, something so raw deserves to be heard.
I chose not to focus much on the instrumentation and the backdrop. It is by no means
something that should be glossed over, but personally I find the strength of the album lies in
the words flowing overtop it. When listening to Why? I find myself picking apart the word
play, while the music keeps the train on the tracks. I know some of you are less into
lyricism than I am, but I feel the band does a good job creating a tapestry for Yoni's verbal
impressionist paintings.
This is a very solid piece of art. While it won't be for everyone, it is a unique sound and a unique
voice. It is an eccentric work, one that stands alone in today's indie-sphere. Why listen to Why?
Because something so fresh, something so odd, something so raw deserves to be heard.
