Bad Things Feel Good*

Alternating between sparse solo turns and full-band outings, Rowena Wise’s second album proves quietly devastating in either mode. That’s because the Melbourne songwriter pairs her tremulous vocal delivery with incisive lyrics, as if determined to penetrate whatever barriers stand between her and the truth of a matter. That lends a raw, confiding vibe to <i>Bad Things Feel Good*</i>, especially when Wise is all on her own. Inspired by a close friend’s experience, <b>“Blood Ties”</b> examines the lasting toll of silence within a family unit. <b>“Diamond in the Rough”</b> is a reflection on another friend of Wise’s, who felt intense pressure to always be exceptional. Even when joined by bass, drums and steel guitar, Wise sounds unguarded. That’s certainly true of the title track, one of several songs that examine the idea of personal imperfection with a piercing eye. It also includes a telling line about tossing out her moral compass in favour of following her heart. Such nuanced themes of independence recur across this album, as Wise explores how we might slip free of the ties that bind us in family, love and our lives.