The Pop Corporation

Remi Wolf seems to be someone who thought about putting all her ideas and buoyancy on a tight leash, but soon found out that it was impossible and they all just erupted out of the top of her head. On stage, she’s infectious and with so much energy that it can feel like watching someone with a loose fire hose. It’s thrilling and joyful to see, honestly.

On record, all those ideas are still very much present, but she’s got things under more control and with her latest album ‘Big Ideas’, she’s made one of the finest, funnest pop albums of 2024. What’s so refreshing about Remi’s whole schtick is that, in a period of carefully manicured artists and clinical marketing campaigns, there’s something untamed about it and she’s allowed to bounce around like a pinball, lighting everything up as she goes.

The album opens with the charming and utterly wonderful ‘Cinderella’, and no-one ever sounded so over-brimming with life while singing “is there something wrong with the way i am designed?“, before reassuring herself with “baby girl won’t you dry your eyes? Don’t stress because you’re doing it right.” It’s got tight funk horns and some super ’70s keys and a sunny-day groove that has made for one of the finest singles of the year.

Another single – ‘Toro’ – is a lovely slice of ’80s electric funk and a tale of getting off, gleefully shared: “When they buzz me for the lobby call
I don’t show coz I’m too busy saying “Toro! Toro!” – the things we do are so deplorable…” this is clearly a young woman living her best life. And what’s so great here, is that with all the naval gazing which blights much of pop music, and pointless lore of relationships turned into melodramas, Remi Wolf remembered to write some choruses.

That’s to say Remi is a shallow performers – there’s some big themes and introspection on here – but cutting it with rubbery soul music, neon synth work, swirling psychedelics and more, the whole thing is incredibly engaging and Wolf reveals herself to be self-effacing as well as someone worth listening to.

‘Soup’ is one of the standout tracks, and you’ll hear her croon “I can’t help but make it about me when you and I are together”, adding “I can never do what you wanted, baby – now our love just wants to divide us lately.” Instead of being another dreary song about personal hardship, it’s interesting and inviting, with a huge emotional chorus about doing business on roof. If you’re into burrowing into someone’s lyrics, there’s loads to chew on – if you’re not, dust off your dancing shoes.

In ‘Kangaroo’, ‘Frog Rock’ and ‘Alone in Miami’, you can hear the echoes of US indie, with gently sizzled psychedelic guitars and Tame Impala rhythms. Some LPs can feel a little unfocused when they skip around between genres, but partly through the sheer force of Wolf’s personality and what appears to be a genuine love of the music she’s inspired by, what we end up with is a varied, kaleidoscopic album that should either worry the competition or have their managers drafting up deals to get her to write songs for them.

There’s other sections which sound totally anthemic and others more bruised, showing the range of emotion that more seasoned have struggled with. Precocious? You fucking bet she is. Pop music has always had room for some bratty behaviour, but we’re not dealing with a one-note performer here. There’s something about Remi Wolf that reminds us of the old road-dogs of the ’70s, forever on tour and simultaneously battered and built-up by it. You can hear it in her voice – the cigarettes, late-nights, the yelling, the parties – whatever it is, she’s got an abundance of character and that’s so sorely needed in the current climate. Honestly, we need to make a superstar of Remi Wolf if that’s something she wants.

There’s sections where it feels like she’s put an electric whisk in her brains and turned it to full power – and then it’s your turn. And it is an incredibly enjoyable feeling because it feels like your strapped in with someone who isn’t overly managed or even heard of being put on vocal rest. She sounds utterly without fear.

‘Big Ideas’ is exactly that, coupled with a carefree attitude and a huge spring in its step. What a ferocious talent we have on our hands.