Esmé Patterson Goes “Wild”

For one of the feistiest records of the year, look no further than Esme Patterson’s killer third record We Were Wild. Wild is indeed the best way to describe Patterson’s raw, uninhibited sound, from her sultry rasp to her punk rock shredding. There’s a strong garage band feel to Wild, and you’ll only wish you were camped out on a musty old couch watching it all go down.

Patterson’s voice is smooth and sweet when she wants it to be, and then fully rock and roll when you least expect it. The payoff is sublime, especially on songs that show off both sides like the explosive “Feel Right.” And, with little accents of honky-tonk twang, like the use of steel guitar on the lovely “Moth Song,” Wild is an excellent, well-rounded collection.

Patterson fits well into a new generation of women in rock. She is strong and smart, but also soft. She sounds pretty, but her words are deep and complicated, and she sings with an unselfconscious freedom that keeps her sound airy. The contrast of her pretty voice with her heavy guitar is compelling on its own, but when you add in her lyrical explorations of needing to settle down and just be a human for a while (the standout single “No River”), self-destructive masochism (the catchy earworm “Wantin’ Ain’t Gettin’), and deep-seated loneliness (the honest and heart-wrenching “Alone”), it all comes together.

Each of Patterson’s songs listens like an intensely personal diary entry, and you’ll likely find yourself relating to all of them with wide-eyed wonder. Some are sure to break your heart and some will lift you up, while others will just make you want to rock out and dance. No matter how you’re consuming We Were Wild, just be sure to consume it.