The morning here is sunny, my cat is stretched out on the windowsill enjoying some Autumn warmth and watching the world go by. I’ve done my shopping, had breakfast and before heading out for the day I am going to do a review. A quick scan through my choices and I am settling on the new album by Samuel Wilbur which has a release date of October 31st.
I will first of all share the press release with you:
‘Samuel Wilbur is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter, high school teacher, and passionate environmentalist. By day, he teaches U.S history and journalism; by night, he crafts indie rock anthems packed with lush harmonies, sharp hooks, and powerful messages about climate change, late-stage capitalism, the rise of the oligarchy, and holding on to hope.
Fueled by the success of his 2024 Album, The Age, Wilbur channeled his environmental anxieties into a focused 13-track concept album. Ivory Tower reflects on life in modern day America, where the rise of the billionaire ruling class opens its doors to fascism while invasive technology and ubiquitous AI accelerate the global climate crisis. Wilbur combats these threats with 90’s guitar riffs, haunting strings, anthemic trumpets, and powerful lyrics that inspire action.
A sweeping, urgent indie rock opera, Ivory Tower is Samuel Wilbur’s most ambitious project to date. A true global collaboration; Wilbur recorded this album across four continents with his favorite artists around the world and at home. The album also features standouts from Minnesota’s vibrant music community, including 5 songs with the electric vocalist Meghan Kreidler of Kiss the Tiger, powerhouse producers Andy Thompson and Matt Patrick, vocals from Minnesota’s Best New Band, Kiernan, and groove-rich basslines from Ian Martin Allison.
Photo Credit: Kish Daniels
My Review:
“Everything is Falling Apart” opens the album with a (kind of) love song set in a time when everything is falling apart. The chorus beat is nice (I’m allowed to use that word once in a whole review lol) and had a bit of a sing-along feel. Basically the whole world can fall apart, but love remains. A bit of backing harmony adds to the track.
“Social Security Number” (Ft. Dani Michaele) I liked for its bouncy style of instrumentalisation, it took me toward Lily Allen in style, that personal conversation and slight cynicism played under a fun little beat. It’s a good number this one and notes the dangers of all that surveillance (that’s why I have a cat around, they don’t work for the police!) It was my favourite on the album.
“Stay Out” (Ft. Meghan Kreidler) is the first of the songs featuring Meghan Kreidler, a vocalist with a very different tone to Dani Michaele. Perhaps her style leads more toward a slightly acidic pop rock, and some rolling drums anchor the song.
“Ivory Tower” (Ft. Meghan Kreidler). I am told in the press release that this ‘track takes aim at the illusion of leadership and inherited power. Ivory Tower exposes the emotional cost and frustration of watching the gatekeepers in power stall progress and maintain the status quo.’ It delivers a strongly emotive vocal performance and a heavy instrumental bass. It is a touch of funk in the groove, a strong album number.
“Miss the Feeling” changes direction and it far more poppy, deliberately introducing a few dance moves to the whole. The instrumentalisation is full of different layers, a trumpet in there somewhere I think and (just possibly) a bongo or two lol.It’s about postmodern burnout apparently, but I was too into the instruments to closely pay attention to the lyrics this time!
“My Corner” is a heavy ballad, solid drums and deep bass; lyrically pleading for someone out there to take up the fight for you. Get in the trenches and fight for me, that is the message for this one.
“Once Again the World Let You Down” (Ft. Meghan Kreidler) is about how the world twists the truth and rewards all the wrong people. The vocals are emotive and bring out the pain of the world we live in where the liars and those who wish to destroy you too often end up winning. Sad world, a song transmitting the pain.
“Hornet’s Nest” (Ft. Laura Kiernan) is a metaphorical song about the worker bees trying to please the queen. It’s a metaphor for the failures of capitalism. It’s not a song I really connected with, but on one listen though some songs are more slow burners.
“I’m Not” (Ft. Meghan Kreidler). The press release tells me: ‘this is a cinematic escape story filled with paranoia, disorientation, and the desire for truth over deception. The song reads like a psychological thriller, where the protagonist is both hunted and hiding in a world that doesn’t feel safe.’ I liked the chorus and I got the cinematic feeling of the rhythm. It delivers a slightly punky rock feel and the guitar sound has a passion to it. I liked this one.
“The Remainder” touches on morality and what makes you stronger when everything is falling apart around you. It had a kind of Summer time beat with a winter lyric. Hmm…
“Tired” is a song about the exhaustion of living in the world today, the burnout and the pain. It played with some harmony on the chorus and it was a decent album track, but probably not one I would revisit.
“It Belongs to Me” (Ft. Meghan Kreidler) We have a system that inflicts cruelty and a justice system that is a joke! This song moves through that pain. Great drum beat and the vocals do a great job of infusing a power rock vibe into the lyrics.
“Everything Repeats” closes the album down in a slow rock ballad style, a bit haunting.
In this album we have, I am told, “an anti-capitalist rock opera” with an end-of-the-world vibe. It’s funny because before the last song which contemplates whether we are destroying ourselves I was interrupted by Jehovah Witnesses at the door (I’m Catholic, but always polite to them). They asked me straight out if I was worried about the state of the world (and listening to this album has just made me lol) – but I replied that all things are relative. We are not living in the period of Black Death, we are not the generation who went through WWI or II and our children are not forced into factories or down the mines aged 7. But we all have concerns and this album does present those worries in a cohesive rock form.Sometimes it’s really good, I loved the Lily Allen vibe on “Social Security Number” – that will end up on my playlist.
Overall, “Ivory Tower” is an album that asks questions rather than gives easy answers. It’s clever, sometimes cynical, sometimes hopeful — an indie rock opera for people who still believe that music can spark change, even if it can’t save the world. Samuel Wilbur’s ability to blend sharp social commentary with infectious rhythm and melody gives the record real staying power.
So, if you like your music smart, heartfelt, and a little bit revolutionary, “Ivory Tower” deserves a spot on your playlist — and maybe in your conscience too.
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All Songs Written by Samuel Wilbur
All Songs Mixed and Mastered by Matt Patrick except Ivory Tower, Mixed by Andy Thompson
Produced by Samuel Wilbur
By Stevie Ritson