The Wind And The Wave ‘From The Wreckage’

Words by Nadia Dar

Hailing from Austin, Texas, duo Patricia Lynn and Dwight Baker have created the ultimate blend of Southern/alternative folk on their debut album, From the Wreckage. It’s chock-full of attitude, personal lyrics and over all, heart – and it definitely should not be over-looked this summer.

The album invites you in with a fun country-like tune called ‘My Mama Said Be Careful Where You Lay Your Head’, and the message could not be more relatable. The song also creates this beautiful idea of realism when you recognize how easy the constant warning throughout the chorus can be drowned by the cheeriness of the melody.

That same beautiful realism seems to reoccur in ‘Loyal Friend and Thoughtful Lover’; it also resonates through ‘Every Other Sunday Morning’, which is an excellent example of how well Patricia is able to portray such raw emotion with just her voice. It’s essentially one of those songs that will make you want to sit by a window for a couple hours and just stare at the rain – but hey, I won’t judge!

My favorite song off the record is some sort of tie between ‘From The Wreckage’ and ‘With Your Two Hands’ because that’s when things get really fun. Both tracks bring this immediate sense of danger and perfectly imitate that gritty, dirty sound that Southern rockers are known for.

The title track ‘From The Wreckage’ has a bit more of an alternative feel, perhaps channeling Patricia’s previous band, The Soldier Thread, while ‘With Your Two Hands’ definitely has a more upbeat, blue grass-like vibe. Either way, both are going on my iPod tonight.

The great thing about this record is its level of intimacy. At least one line from every song shares some sort of private information from Patricia’s personal life, whether it’s in a sentimental way or through anger.

‘Raising Hands Raising Hell Raise ‘em High’ is one song in particular that speaks the truth but keeps the raw energy that comes along with it. The result is the refreshing message that just because you’re being honest, doesn’t mean you have to make any apologies along the way.

Overall The Wind and the Wave seemed to have created an album that’s got a little something for everyone. Country fans, alt rockers, even the odd pop fanatic can all find some sort of common ground with this record, and at the end of the day, isn’t that all that matters?