Photo credits: Apple Music
Despite the stigma that comes with being a nepo baby, Inhaler’s third studio album, Open Wide, proves that it’s possible to set yourself apart from a famous parent’s shadow. Vocalist Elijah Hewson might benefit from being the son of U2’s frontman, Bono, but this latest installment to Inhaler’s catalog cements them as an indie band to be reckoned with.
TRACK LIST:
Eddie In The Darkness
Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Your House
A Question Of You
Even Though
Again
Open Wide
All I Got Is You
Still Young
The Charms
X-Ray
Concrete
Little Things
Hailing from Dublin, Inhaler are an Irish band formed in 2012, consisting of members Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Bartholomew Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon. They released their debut album, It Won’t Always Be Like This, in 2021, charting at number one on the UK and Irish Albums Charts. Inhaler have since been on the rise, opening for well-known acts like Pearl Jam, Harry Styles, Arctic Monkeys, and Sam Fender. Citing the inspiration behind the band’s sound, Hewson named icons like The Stone Roses, New Order, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Happy Mondays, Echo & the Bunnymen, Talking Heads, and Oasis as their primary writing influences.
Departing from their typical indie/alt-rock sound, Inhaler’s Open Wide sees the band experimenting with a more pop-influenced sound. The opening track, “Eddie In The Darkness,” immediately shows us that new sonic direction, taking the driving rock instrumentals and fusing them with infectious pop melodies. “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” follows as the next installment on Open Wide, leaning into a nostalgic 80s pop-rock inspired soundscape. The track is a mid-tempo ballad, touching on topics like feeling lost in life, something that relates to the album’s overall meaning.
Two of the singles released prior to the album, “Your House” and “Question Of You,” are absolute gems, channeling the essence of addictive pop-rock and electropop hits of the 70s and 80s. Both tracks are excellent examples of the album’s guitar-driven pop sound with “Your House” having riffs reminiscent of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky.” “Your House” and “Question Of You” also show that the band isn’t afraid to experiment, adding in a choir to back up Hewson’s dynamic vocals that bears a likeness to the layered vocals found in 70s pop-rock.
Some of the lighter tracks on Open Wide, “Even Though,” “Again,” and “All I Got Is You” give fans a taste of that classic Inhaler sound, channeling the essence of their previous albums, It Won’t Always Be Like This and Cuts & Bruises. All three tracks give a nod to the band’s indie-rock roots while not straying too far from the pop-rock direction they are moving in.
Living up to Hewson’s genetic legacy, the frontman and his band channel a sound reminiscent of U2’s power ballads with tracks like “Open Wide,” and “Still Young.” Hewson’s smooth vocals bear a striking resemblance to his father’s on these songs, giving us a taste of what U2 would sound like with a modern indie flare. Giving us some synth-laden electropop vibes, “The Charms” and “Concrete” keep the nostalgia for the 80s going, blending indie-pop melodies with retro-inspired instrumentals. Both tracks incorporate elements of 80s synth-rock and pop, creating a sound that might remind listeners of icons like The Cure.
Sounding close to what we usually expect from Inhaler, “X-Ray” and “Little Things” remind fans of the group’s usual indie-rock sound, infusing a hint of indie-pop throughout the songs’ melodies. “Little Things” ends the adventurous album on a high-note, giving listeners a pick-me-up with its high energy and effectively wrapping up Inhaler’s best work yet.
Though some are unhappy with the band moving in a more pop-influenced direction, Inhaler’s Open Wide is certainly an album to have on repeat. It’s a refreshing take on the group’s unique sound, keeping their music from getting stale or predictable. If you’ve never heard of Inhaler before, Open Wide is the perfect introduction to a fantastic, talented band!
Written By Cheyenne Johnson
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