The Wombats Make Lemonade Out of Lemons
Since releasing 2007’s A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, rock trio the Wombats have been building a dedicated following. The Liverpool, England group scored in the U.K. and Europe with its first three albums, 2015’s Glitterbug cracked the U.S. market. The band’s latest, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, is set for release in February; a single, “Lemon to a Knife Fight,” has already been released, and this summer the Wombats will tour America with Weezer and the Pixies. But ahead of that, there’s a headlining tour.
Though the Wombats’ success in the U.S. took longer to materialize, the band’s guitarist, lead vocalist and lyricist Matthew “Murph” Murphy says that the group now “plays similar size venues on both sides of the pond.” He suggests that breaking through in America took a bit longer because his lyrics “are not easily digestible.” But Murph believes that good things come to those who are patient. “There’s something more rewarding about that than having it all come to you at once,” he says.
The Wombats’ latest album showcases a modern sound that seems to draw upon both the jagged vibe of punk and the dance-oriented 1990s sounds of nearby Manchester. But Murph dismisses comparisons to the Britpop scene. “I do love that era of guitar music,” he admits, “but I just try to write stuff that resonates with me personally.”
After releasing three albums on Warner imprint 14th Floor Records, the Wombats moved to Kobalt Music Group to release Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. “We weren’t exactly a priority artist at Warner,” Murph says. But he’s not bitter; he understands the realities of marketing music in the 21st century. Revealing both that understanding and more than a hint of humor, he observes that “You can squeeze a lot more Michelin stars out of Ed Sheeran than you can the Wombats.”
The lyrics of tunes like “Lemon to a Knife Fight” might be inscrutable to American audiences, but the Wombats’ groove – especially onstage, where Murph believes the band is at its best – is undeniable.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.