Album Review – Wednesday’s “Bleeds”

Reviews 67 Comments


Not applicable (#NA) with some Alt-country (#564) on the Country DDS.

So this is the album and artist my credibility as a country music critic has been called out for not knowing about? This is the album that some claim should be an Album of the Year contender on a traditional country music website? Still others think it includes a Song of the Year candidate too?

For the uninitiated (and that included myself some months back), Wednesday is an alternative rock band from Asheville, North Carolina whose music has also been described as noise rock, slacker rock, shoegaze, and to some, “alt country.” And all of these assessments are probably fair, including the later one when you consider some of their songs. “Some” being the apt term here.

Wednesday and their latest album Bleeds comes very highly critically-acclaimed within the rock, alternative rock, and indie rock world. In 2025, respected NPR critic Ann Powers claimed Wednesday “might have released the rock album of the year.” Rolling Stone rated Bleeds the #8 album of 2025. Pitchfork rated it #6. Those are some pretty serious plaudits, and as a country music critic, it would not be my place to question or undercut these assessments.

Wednesday has some strong ties to the country-adjacent indie rock world. MJ Lenderman is a member of the band (non touring as of 2025), and his 2024 album Manning Fireworks is a strong work in the alt-country realm. Wednesday and lead singer Karly Hartzman have also shared the stage and collaborated with Waxahatchee who also keep close ties to country as an indie rock band.

And yes, the new album Bleeds has an undeniably country song on it called “Elderberry Wine,” as well as some indie rock songs that feature some steel guitar, and a couple of country-ish tracks including a song that sounds like a post-psychadelic San Francisco country rock track referencing smoking pot out of a Pepsi can that’s called “Phish Pepsi.”

But is Wednesday a country band? Is Bleeds a country album? Of course not. And that’s not just because the balance of the music on the album is not country. It’s that as a whole, the most predominant influence and sound coming from this act is very loud and aggressive noise rock that would come at the vast majority of country fans like a set of serrated acrylic nails determined to scratch the eyeballs out of your skull.


When you consider the albums from country-adjacent indie rock bands like Lord Huron, Waxahatchee, etc, there’s a melodic sensibility infused with roots influences that results in a pleasing experience. Wednesday features some of this too … until they don’t, and the nails come out.

Frankly, for a country critic, sometimes these roots-infused indie rock albums can be great changes of pace or palate cleansers. This particular country critic has openly proclaimed his appeal for woman-fronted indie rock in the past like Alvvays, Waxahatchee, early Snail Mail, Tristen, etc., because it can be a breath of fresh air compared to hard country twang.

But at times Wednesday works in tones that are purposely discordant and out-of-tune. Though singer Karly Hartzman can be pleasant and even understated, at times she gives into the sort of overindulgent, highly-affected, over emotional performative indie rock singing that’s a turn off to many. But again, this is not necessarily a criticism of the band or Bleeds. Within their musical universe, all of this stuff is the reason they’re so revered.

And yes, if you’re a fan of Wednesday or alternative rock in general—but also enjoy country music either primarily or from afar—you hear a song like “Elderberry Wine” and it’s super cool. This is your two musical universes colliding like when you hear one of your favorite sports heroes likes your favorite independent country band. This is what’s interesting about what Wednesday is doing, and makes them unique in the alt rock space.

Is “Elderberry Wine” the best country song that was released in 2025 as has been asserted by some? Let’s not be ridiculous. It’s cool because it’s from an indie rock band and appears on this album somewhat unexpectedly. It’s a country song for the Pitchfork, NPR, Rolling Stone crowd. Don’t make it uncool by trying to ram it down the throats of rednecks as a country masterpiece.

Please don’t misunderstand the opinions shared here. It’s awesome that an indie/alternative rock band from Asheville wants to dabble in country songs on their critically-acclaimed records. It’s bands like Wednesday, and albums like Bleeds who can seed the next fans of cool country music, and create a population of independent country supporters that works alternatively to the mainstream country system.

But calling this band and album country, and criticizing country fans (or critics) for not fully embracing them with a bear hug raises the risk of creating conflict where there doesn’t need to be any. Congratulations to Wednesday and all their success. It’s cool they hold a love for country music in their hearts, and are willing to express it.

But let’s keep the assessment open and honest: Bleeds is an alt rock album with a country song or two.

(rating withheld)

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