Wet Wet Wet are one of the most successful Scottish bands of all time. Since they enjoyed a huge breakthrough with 1987 debut album Popped In Souled Out, the band has experienced massive success. After breaking up in the late 90s, the band reformed in 2004 for the release of The Greatest Hits. In 2007 the band released their eighth studio album Timeless which featured Top 10 single Weightless. Now Wet Wet Wet are back together for Step By Step, a new greatest hits album featuring 3 new tracks, and a UK arena tour in December.
Step By Step features 17 classic tracks from Wet Wet Wet spanning the entirety of their career to date.Ā The album isnāt sequenced chronologically instead jumping around the bandās impressive catalogue of releases. Personally we prefer greatest hits when they are mixed up a bit and Wet Wet Wet start Step By Step with 3 brand new tracks.
The new tracks ā Step By Step, Sad Kinda Love and Playinā Like a Kid ā fit seamlessly on the record capturing the classic Wet Wet Wet sound and giving it a contemporary twist. Our favourite of the three is the midtempo classic soul of Sad Kinda Love. It reminds you why you loved Wet Wet Wet in the first place and sounds so good!
Of course most people will check out this album for the hits and there are plenty of them to enjoy. Love is All Around, the bandās version of The Troggsā hit, closes the album and allows their catalogue to breathe before getting to that inevitable moment. Whilst that song was huge, thereās so much more to Wet Wet Wet than that epic number 1 single. The older songs are the best moments on the album with Sweet Little Mystery, Angel Eyes (Home and Away), and Wishing I Was Lucky being three of our favourites. Theyāve actually aged really well and Marti Pellowās soulful voice is, as always, a joy to listen to.
Other highlights on the record include the ā94 version of Goodnight Girl, the soul-infused Hold Back The River, and Sweet Surrender. When we interviewed the band recently Marti revealed that his favourite at the moment is Julia Says and itās not hard to see why that song has remained a classic. The timeless production and Martiās distinctive voice combine for a powerful and soulful pop moment.
Wet Wet Wet are without a doubt absolute legends. Listening to Step By Step you may realise youāve forgotten just how good a band they really are. Theyāve got a fantastic catalogue of hits that is more killer than anything else. They have been, and continue to be, a very consistent band who make soulful pop quite unlike anything else out there. Step By Step is a great refresher ahead of the bandās December arena tour and we canāt wait to hear all of these hits live.