Wesley Stace's 'Late Style' Album Examines Contemporary Crises Through Nostalgic Pop
An opinion piece discusses Wesley Stace's 2021 album 'Late Style' as a model for art that addresses contemporary crises while maintaining hope. The author, an English professor, critiques both detached 'art for art's sake' approaches and overly cynical works like Adam McKay's 2021 film 'Don't Look Up,' arguing they fail to balance honesty with therapeutic perspective. Stace, who previously performed as John Wesley Harding, creates music with 1960s pop and lounge aesthetics that initially appears escapist but contains lyrics addressing current issues like the pandemic's impact on live music, labor market turmoil in 'The Great Resignation,' and political commentary. The album's nostalgic style provides reflective distance while engaging with 2020s realities, similar to Bo Burnham's 2021 Netflix special 'Inside' in combining critique with aesthetic beauty.
Key facts
- Wesley Stace released the album 'Late Style' in 2021
- Stace previously performed under the name John Wesley Harding for much of his career
- The album uses 1960s pop and lounge music aesthetics while addressing contemporary issues
- Specific songs reference the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on live music and 'The Great Resignation' labor phenomenon
- The article compares Stace's approach to Adam McKay's 2021 film 'Don't Look Up' and Bo Burnham's 2021 Netflix special 'Inside'
Entities
Artists
- Wesley Stace
- John Wesley Harding
- Bob Dylan
- Adam McKay
- Bo Burnham
- Ray Davies
Institutions
- Netflix
- Spotify