Ratty Reacts to Hozier - Wasteland, Baby! | Full Album Reaction and Review

In this video I listen to Hozier's album, Wasteland, Baby! The album exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed the whole listening experience.
I listened to this whole album on a live stream. To join the fun on my next one, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you know when I'm live. :)
0:00 - Introduction
0:21 - Nina Cried Power (feat. Mavis Staples)
5:45 - Almost (Sweet Music)
11:03 - Movement
16:33 - No Plan
23:52 - Nobody
28:38 - To Noise Making (Sing)
34:30 - As It Was
40:26 - Shrike
47:48 - Talk
53:39 - Be
1:00:38 - Dinner & Diatribes
1:06:40 - Would That I
1:13:57 - Sunlight
1:21:24 - Wasteland, Baby!
1:27:15 - My Final Thoughts on the Album
Check out the album playlist here: • Wasteland, Baby!

[@RattyReacts]

NEW REACTION/REVIEW TO UNREAL UNEARTH OUT NOW: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hImqg2munLh2j8ksi=-Q7DgDy0u0Zn6Bfd • Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoy this album review/reaction! It took a while to get this published due to copyright ID claims and the long editing process, so I apologize for the delay! :) • If you want to check out my other Hozier reactions go here: kzbin.info/aero/PLDYJIGSuxqEntjnZN2JEqb7QCLLpNDfPg • This was originally recorded live, so make sure to subscribe and hit "all" for notifications if you want to see videos like this live! :)

[@marykatedoyle9574]

Hozier absolutely takes multiple listens to understand! This is a concept album about finding love at the end of the world. Song meanings as I understand them: Nina cried power: an ode to all of the artists before him who have used their platform to stand up for civil rights Almost (sweet music): he’s comparing a new relationship to a previous lover and he’s trying to find himself again as he listens to the songs he used to associate with the previous relationship and trying to reconcile that with new feelings Movement: appreciating someone for the way they move, whether it’s gracefully or clumsily, the way they take up space is fascinating to him No plan: the world is ending, god isn’t real (or is dead), and at the end of all things they sit together in a silent understanding knowing there’s nothing to be done about it. To me it’s also about the exquisite joy that can be found in moments of deepest pain. Nobody: everyone offers a unique type of love in a relationship, and him appreciating the eccentricities of how this person loves him. He basically says that he’s met all kinds of people and done all kinds of thing but there’s nowhere he’s rather be than at his love’s side. To noice making (sing): make art! Whether it’s good or bad, just keep trying. The worst thing that can happen is it makes you feel a little bit better, the best is that it can change other people’s lives too As it was: he loved them before the end of the world and he’ll love them through it. When the world falls apart, he just want to know how their day was and spend time by their side Shrike: shrikes are known as “butcher birds” because they impale their prey on thorns and let the prey die painfully slowly. He’s saying he never knew how to express his love for this person, and now he’s screaming what he should have said. When he’s resurrected, he hopes it’ll be as a shrike that offers sacrifices to the thorn of his love so he can show his devotion to them Talk: “I’ll dress up my desire with fancy metaphors and declarations of love so that you don’t know how desperately and filthily I want you” Be: “when everything falls apart and the end of the world is before us, don’t change a thing about yourself, because you’re wonderful and kind and good and that’s what I need to see at the end of all things.” Dinner and diatribes: he’s saying he’ll go to a dinner party with all of his partner’s friend that he only kind of likes because they promised amazing sex at the end of it lol, and that’s all he’s thinking about throughout the dinner Would that I: comparing his past loves to trees and a new love as the fire that burns them all to ash in a glorious conflagration from which he can’t look away Sunlight: he once thought he’d forever shun sunlight and happiness until a love came to him that showed him the power of the sun and good, true love, and how now he’d do anything to keep it Wasteland, baby!: love can feel like the beginning and the end of the world in normal times, but what happens when it occurs at the literal end of the world? It’s a whole other level of intimacy and devotion when they watch the sun die while in each other’s arms A couple notes: these are just the summaries of my takes! I’m no expert, it’s just how i interpret the music. Additionally, Hozier deliberately removes gendered pronouns from his works, so I did the same here. Love the bon iver comparison, and say hello to your cat for me! Also if you’re up for it, you should check out his debut album as well! It’s just as good as this one

[@RattyReacts]

Holy cow! I appreciate you taking the time to both watch my video and fill me in on each and every song!! It means a lot to me! I love that it's your personal interpretations because that is how music is meant to be interpreted for the most part :) My cat says hello too. I'll have to check out that album at some point. I've heard a few songs off of it and really liked them so I figure I'll probably like it. Thanks again!

[@neintales1224]

Nina Cried Power is an activist song paying tribute to many musicians who were seriously into the US civil rights movement. But it's also about how it's not enough to be 'awake' to the problems, you have to rise to face them, and speak out. Mavis Staples is a renowned singer and activist, the Staple Singers sang some huge hits in the 70's. Also mentioned (I'm not gonna remember them all:) Curtis Mayfield, Pattie LaBelle, John Lennon, James Brown, Pete Seeger, Billie Holiday, and of course Nina Simone who the song was named after. All musicians well worth looking into if you are not familiar with them. Nina Simone and Billie Holiday are two of my favorites out of all those listed.

[@ashtingreene8725]

Just a note: Movement isnt just about dancing 😅

[@RattyReacts]

Haha, Yeah I caught onto that a bit later. In my head though it'll always just be dancing 😂

[@ashtingreene8725]

@@RattyReacts I get that lol I'll be honest, it took me a couple listens to confirm. I remember thinking it sounded a little spicy but wasn't entirely sure

[@thegadflysnemesis4102]

I really enjoyed this video! I tend to get into my own head about the abundant meaning and symbolism available to analyze in Hozier songs, but watching reaction videos (especially ones as thorough as yours) help me really appreciate the sheer aesthetic pleasure of Hozier's songs. There's time for parsing and fully appreciating the meaning later, after a few more listens - the first listen is just to dive into the pure feeling. Also I could not agree more with your love for "Sing" - I absolutely adore the song, and its message that singing is something that humans just *do*, that we shouldnt worry about how "well" we sing and the point is the joy of it, is something that resonates with me.

[@RattyReacts]

Thank you so much! As you could tell I REALLY love that song and it means so much to me.. I love that you can relate to the feelings I get from it :)

[@SqueezySponge]

Great time watching this dude!! In love with this album, probably moreso than his debut album. One thing I noticed is that in most of the songs here, his voice sounds like he’s singing through an intercom or a radio even. Think of The Walking Dead, or Hunger Games. You’re in an apocalyptic world that’s run down, abandoned and forgotten. You’re on a journey through this destroyed Earth, and along your way you hear music playing over an intercom. Idk, I feel like that vocal effect adds to the atmosphere the lyrics put you in. Til next time bro have a good day!

[@RattyReacts]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! I totally see what you mean about the intercom.. It gives it an eerie feeling to it like the walking dead, just like you said. The eeriness really does support the post-apocalyptic feeling of this album.

[@Shakespearmint]

"As It Was" is my sleeper favorite from this album. A while ago I was listening to the whole album while replaying the Dragon Age series and ended up writing a half-baked reddit post connecting all the romance-able characters from those games to Hozier songs. "As It Was" was for Cullen. If you know, you know.

[@RattyReacts]

I really do love "As It Was" quite a lot. I can't say I'm familiar with Dragon Age, so I def don't know haha. Its awesome how you were able to tie in the songs to the characters though! Love the creativity in that. Thanks for the personal anecdote and for watching :)

[@awenamasoud655]

Mack is Katie Mack the author of The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) a book Hozier was reading at the time.

[@christophhanke6627]

In the Woods Somewhere and Arsonists Lullaby are really interesting

[@marykatedoyle9574]

Arsonist’s lullaby was the first Hozier song I heard outside of take me to church and it was over for me after that. Such a good goddamn song

[@RattyReacts]

I've heard arsonist's lullaby but have yet to hear the first one you mentioned. Is it on his first album?

[@christophhanke6627]

@@RattyReacts yes both are Part of the deluxe Edition of the first album

[@rebeccastarovich6079]

Would That I 😘👌

[@mikeluongo537]

Love that He gets us thinking of things in a different Way

[@mikeluongo537]

He must be from another universe. one that I would like, for sure. Thanks Man, cool review. Let's see what ya cum up with???

[@mayaenglish5424]

16:38 you should check out the behind the scenes of making the album cover! He and his Mom collaborate on his Album art and it's very cute. Also he was actually underwater for it lol. It's a painting but they did reference photos of him in a big pool. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oV6shKSLr7SkgNE

[@shilohthepoet2341]

Nina is a song named after Nina Simone, a civil rights activist and musician. they name several other activists/musicians of that era. Mavis Staples was also a civil rights activist

[@mikeluongo537]

Macj is an astrophisisist, who explains how the sun, and panets die. Hope this helps

[@riodelizo9120]

Thank you so much!

[@RattyReacts]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@christophhanke6627]

Hair Down for the long stream^^ Would you be interested in reviewing some Muse? Like Plug in Baby, Drones or Feeling Good

[@RattyReacts]

Interesting you mention Muse because they're one of my favorite bands of all time! I may just listen to some of them live, but I've actually listened to most if not all of their music :)

[@christophhanke6627]

@@RattyReacts oh sweet. Definitely a great taste^^ Than i reckon you would enjoy Royal Blood aswell, especially their third album

[@RattyReacts]

@@christophhanke6627 I have actually heard that album haha. I've never listened through their first two albums though.

[@christophhanke6627]

​@@RattyReacts wow xD personally between those two, i prefer the first one. But their third Album for sure sounds different compared to the first two. Mhmm let's See "Ten Tonne Skeleton", " Hook, Line and Sinker" "Little Monsters" might be worth listening to

[@mikeluongo537]

That guitar and deep piano. the guitar is fucking pornographic!

[@instigatorartworks]

Please...Tash Sultana - Coma (MTV Unplugged, Live In Melbourne)

[@RattyReacts]

If I listen to it, I'll probably want to react to the studio version first, unless there isn't one. I'd totally be down to reacting to it on a livestream or in a separate video after I hear the studio version. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@instigatorartworks]

@@RattyReacts I have not heard the studio version I'm sure there is one. This is her 1st album with a band. She is touring now both in the states and all through the abroad. If you go to her website I'm sure you'd find a studio version at the least and maybe a live show in your area this summer. I absolutely love Tash, she's the best live show I've ever seen and my favorite artist.

[@chicknorton8839]

That's not Kaitlin Olsen, that's Panti Bliss!