Wussy’s Strawberry is a record about being tired of the world and still wanting to be in it. The Cincinnati band has spent years making scrappy, loud rock music that refuses to smooth over its edges. This 2011 album, their fifth, finds them at a peak of confidence. It is a collection of songs that are angry, funny, and tender in equal measure, and it never once loses its footing.
The record runs eleven tracks and 41 minutes, and it moves fast. There is no filler here, no wasted space. Every song earns its place on the tape, even when they are not the strongest moments. What Strawberry does best is capture a moment of transition — a band looking back at a decade of hard work and forward at whatever comes next.
Opening With Asteroids
The album starts with “Asteroids,” a track that sets the tone immediately. It is a slow-burn opener, built on a steady rhythm that feels like the calm before the storm. The song builds tension before it breaks, and it does so with a sharpness that signals the band is not interested in comfort. It is a strong start, and it announces that this is a record that means business.
“Pulverized” follows, and it is a more aggressive statement. The title says it all — the song is a burst of energy, a punk-rock blast that clears the air. It is short and sweet, and it works as a palate cleanser after the slower opener. Together, these two tracks set up the record’s range: one song that takes its time, one that demands attention now.
Waiting Room Through Mountain of Tires
“Waiting Room” is the first real shift. It is a song about being stuck in a place you do not want to be, and it carries a weight that the earlier tracks hint at but do not fully land. The lyrics are specific and personal, and the music matches that specificity with a quiet intensity. It is not a standout in the way “Asteroids” or “Pulverized” are, but it holds the album together.
“Chicken” is a strange beast. It is a song about a dog, and it is one of the more offbeat moments on the record. The humor is dry, almost deadpan, and it lands well. It is a track that could have felt like a detour, but it works because it respects the absurdity of its own premise.
“Grand Champion Steer” picks things back up. It is a song about ambition and failure, and it is delivered with a sense of resignation that cuts through the noise. The title is a joke, but the song is not. It is a track that shows the band can be subtle and pointed at the same time.
“Magnolia” is a quieter moment. It is a ballad, and it is the most vulnerable thing on the record. The song is about loss, and it is delivered with a restraint that makes it feel earned. It is a welcome contrast to the aggression of the surrounding tracks, and it proves that Wussy can do more than scream.
“Fly, Fly, Fly” is a pop song dressed up as a rock anthem. It is the shortest track on the album, and it is also one of the catchiest. The chorus is sticky, and the guitar work is sharp. It is a track that could have been a throwaway, but it ends up being one of the most memorable moments on the record.
“Mountain of Tires” closes out this stretch. It is a song about waste and excess, and it is delivered with a grim humor. The image is vivid, and the song stays with you. It is a strong track, and it sets up the final stretch of the album.
Pizza King and Wrist Rocket
“Pizza King” is a song about food, but it is also a song about community. It is a track that celebrates the small pleasures of life, and it does so with a warmth that feels genuine. It is not a grand statement, but it is a welcome one.
“Wrist Rocket” is the longest track on the album, and it is also one of the most ambitious. It is a song about violence and control, and it is delivered with a sense of menace that is both thrilling and unsettling. The song builds to a climax, and it delivers on its promise. It is a track that shows the band at their most adventurous.
Little Miami
“Little Miami” is the closer, and it is a track that sums up everything the album is about. It is a song about home, about memory, and about the passage of time. It is a slow-burning epic that rewards patience, and it ends the record on a note of quiet triumph. It is a fitting end to a record that has spent its runtime building toward this moment.
The Tracks That Don’t Quite Land
Not every track hits the same way. “Grand Champion Steer” and “Chicken” are solid, but they do not reach the heights of the record’s peaks. They are competent, and they serve their purpose, but they are not the moments that define the album. They are the connective tissue, and they do that job well.
The Verdict
Strawberry is a record that knows exactly what it wants to be. It is a rock album that is unapologetic about its anger, its humor, and its tenderness. It is a record that rewards attention, and it is one that sticks with you long after the last track ends. It is not perfect, and it does not need to be.
The album’s strengths are its consistency and its ambition. It is a record that is willing to try new things while holding onto its core identity. It is a record that understands that rock music is about feeling, and it delivers that feeling in spades.
Key Facts
– Artist: Wussy
– Album: Strawberry
– Release type: Album
– Year: 2011
– Tracks: 11
– Total running time: 41 minutes
Strawberry is a great rock record. It is a record that captures a moment in time and makes it feel urgent. It is a record that deserves your attention, and it is a record that rewards it. It is not a perfect record, but it is a complete one.
- Asteroids3:19
- Pulverized2:56
- Waiting Room4:12
- Chicken3:17
- Grand Champion Steer3:35
- Magnolia3:28
- Fly, Fly, Fly2:33
- Mountain of Tires3:34
- Pizza King4:06
- Wrist Rocket4:59
- Little Miami6:00
