Mr. Wizard – I Know I Don’t Know (2022)
As the world moves forward around us, we are often drawn to things from the past that we are comfortable with, and the music we listen to is no different. This is something Mr. Wizard is aware of and taps into with his EP I Know I Don’t Know. Bringing a touch of nostalgic alternative rock, he adds a splash of something modern to breathe new life into it.
Across the track, he uses the story of a sick man who is accomplished and respected, but urgently trying to establish his legacy to draw you into the world of the music. A wonderfully immersive EP, it picks up all the best elements of music that 30-year-olds grew up on, while bringing a new infusion to the sound. Added to this is a unique songwriting technique that offers a wonderfully individual flavour to the tracks.
The EP opens with ‘I Don’t Want to Think About It’ which shoves you into the alternative rock vibes. There is a late 90s, early 2000s, feeling to the push of the guitars that is a fantastic hit of nostalgia. While there is a retro feeling to the opening, as the track progresses, a modern edge is added to the music. This is reflected in the vocals as well, which offer this old-school punk-rock vibe. Through the lyrics, you are taken back in time, only to be tossed into the present by the rocking flow of the music. It is a fantastic opening track that introduces you to the sound of the EP, while getting you rocking out to the sound. There is a seriously infectious energy that has been woven into each note that you can’t get enough of.
‘Wait and See’ takes the retro vibes a bit further back in the opening, before stepping firmly into the present. There is a different style of movement to this track that picks up on other elements of rock compared to the opening track. This is a fantastic highlighting of the musicality of Mr. Wizard while retaining the addictive energy he opened the EP with. Through the lyrics, he brings a feeling of anticipation that threatens to turn into a head-first run into the future. There is a slightly reflective edge to the performance that twists into a contemplation of whether waiting is the best option. It is a track packed with conflicting ideas that we can all actually relate to.
The energy continues to be pumped into your veins through ‘By the Sound of It’, but gets a bubbling vibe. Through the melody, he keeps you bopping to his sound and rhythm from the first note of the track to the very last one. This is definitely the song of the EP that makes you want to turn the volume up and shout out with the catchy chorus. As the halfway mark of the EP, the lyrics reflect this, acknowledging the progress made, but bringing the understanding that there is still a way to go. This links into the narrative of the EP as a whole, as the main character seems to reflect on everything he has achieved while still feeling that there is still so much to do. This feeling has been packed into energy pulses and catchy flows that rock through your body.
‘Make It Alone’ brings a darker feeling to the EP through the heaviness of the guitars in the opening. This is taken to another level by the aggressive edge of the vocals that punch out of the darkness, grab your shoulders and shake you up. The backing vocals shout out behind the main vocal line, adding to the overall feeling of the track. There is a heavy mosh pit vibe to this song that makes you want to bounce off the walls while shoving at everything in your way. Through the track, he brings the feeling of having to move forward on your own, but this has been dipped into a really aggressive vibe. Halfway through the track, there is a change in the movement of the melody that shakes up your insides and churns your emotions, leaving you in an almost acid trip of melting colours.
The EP comes to an end with ‘Greener’ which draws on the idea of the grass always being greener on the other side. While tapping into this idea, they consider whether it is really true. There is a feeling of having tried to do everything right and not knowing if that has been enough. It is a great way to bring the story of the EP to a close as it reflects on life with the benefit of hindsight. While there is a reflective edge, the chorus has a very present feeling to it as it brings the questioning emotions to life. This can easily become your favourite track of the EP as it brings the energy of Mr. Wizard to a contemplative lyrical flow.
Mr. Wizard brings a hit of retro rock to some modern vibes as he brings the story of I Know I Don’t Know to addictive life. Each track brings another element of old-school rock to our ears as the vocals bring another chapter of the EP’s tale. Each song is infectious in its own way and together they create an EP you can easily listen to on repeat.
Find out more about Mr. Wizard on his Instagram and Spotify.
