Remi Wolf's Album “Mud” Shows Us How Beautiful Yet Daunting, Yearning, and Healing Can Be.
Written by: Lauren Corrigan
ARTIST: Remi Wolf
ALBUM: Mud (2026)
GENRE: Pop
RATING: 9.5/10
If you haven’t heard of Remi Wolf before, you will soon. I’ve been a huge fan of Remi Wolf since she came out with “Juno” in 2021, and I think she has grown so much both vocally and production-wise. Though her sound is changing, she has some signature vocals that you can find in almost every one of Remi Wolf’s songs.
Wolf has an unimaginable range in her latest album in so many ways. Her last album, “Big Ideas” (2024), highlighted her upbeat, more gleeful work; this album feels similar to her previous releases, but “Mud” feels much more experimental, which I absolutely love. It’s unhinged and emotional, exploring themes like turning inward after heartbreak, self-doubt, and inner healing, giving each track a sense of hope. “Mud” shows the maturity Wolf has gained over the last few years after releasing “Big Ideas.” Almost every song on this new album carries so much power that it allows you to step into Wolf’s beautiful yet chaotic world. Mesmerizing, heavy, remarkable vocals mesh with bursting production; you feel fully immersed in the sound, keeping listeners captivated and eager for the next track's genre shift. Wolf jumps from funk-pop soul to alternative Indie pop, but each shift flows so smoothly into the next track that it paints a clear picture of the story Wolf tells throughout.
The album opens with one of the 3 singles Wolf released before the album, “Bottle”. The track opens with a head-bopping beat and a guitar that slides in with a stair-step riff that continues throughout, along with another electric guitar that strikes a downbeat and adds a flare of fire. Wolf has openly talked about her addiction and recovery, and this song highlights the highs and lows of what it is like to overcome addiction and move into sobriety, even if it’s really hard.
Building up to what I would say is the most powerful and emotional song on the album in terms of intensity in every way: production, lyrics, melody, etc. The two songs are “Champagne” and another single, “Twiggy”. Both of these follow a similar narrative of being in a toxic relationship and wanting attention from someone emotionally unavailable. Something about these two tracks hits so hard, “Twiggy” especially: Wolf captures raw emotion, not hiding or putting up a wall between her and her listeners; she lets each of them really understand where her mind is at.
The climax, and definitely one of Wolf’s best vocal performances we have seen from her thus far, has to be “Jaime”. I love the approach she took with this one; the verses create a calm before the storm, while the chorus is the storm. The song is slow, and that’s what adds to its power and depth. Her lyric writing stands out to me most, along with her vocals. The production lets her real songwriting talent carry the song, while a driving melody underneath keeps the lyrics as the strong point. What really captivates me about this track is Wolf’s vocals, and I could go into so much more detail about how insane and impressive her delivery is. Not only can she do airy and raspy, but she also hits a distorted screech perfectly in tune in this track that has me in a chokehold. As someone who went through vocal training, this type of singing isn’t something you can do on a whim; Wolf has had extensive training to do it without straining her voice. You can hear the pain and agony in her voice, the yearning and saddened reality of experiencing heartbreak and still wanting to make memories with that person, yet this person caused pain and suffering; but as Remi says, “don’t stop what you’re doing to me.”
Next is the title track, “Covered In Mud.” This track is full of funk and has a psychedelic feel; the guitar and drums are perfectly placed in the mix, so Wolf’s voice stays the main focus. Wolf's voice also has a twang, which adds a flair that blends that twang with a more alternative vibe. I love how intense the chorus is compared to the verses, which carry a much softer tone. This song winds down after a lot of powerful high points in the album.
Touching on “Moon So High,” it was a pleasant surprise for John Mayer to be featured on this song. The first time I heard it, I had a “no way” moment because John Mayer collaborates with some of the best artists, and I am excited to see Remi Wolf added to his list of incredible artists. “I Won’t Cry” is probably the most yearning track on the album; each of them is, but I believe this one really hits hard on the yearning aspect of love. “Did you want me back?” and “Why do you want me back?” Wolf repeats this many times throughout, emphasizing how hard it is to want someone who isn’t able to sustain a relationship anymore. Still, if they were to pursue that relationship, you would do anything to make that possible, even if it means bending over backward and putting a huge amount of energy into someone else, almost abandoning yourself.
The next two songs before the final track on the album, “Wine Drunk” and “Guess,” are perfect for wrapping up the album. “Wine Drunk” brings back that playful, twangy sound Wolf used in “Covered in Mud,” but it adds a bit more pop-rock, which takes listeners to a happier, more upbeat place than the last couple of songs. “Wine Drunk” reminds me a lot of Noah Kahan and his use of a banjo, but Remi uses that sound as just a lick of twang, inviting the banjo to live in a rock world that Wolf creates in this track. “Guess” is the second-to-last track, and it still has that folky sound Wolf has used throughout her album. It shows how much she has developed her sound and matured over the last couple of years. Once again, Wolf’s vocals are the main star, but what's different here is that it highlights not only her voice but also her songwriting. Of all the songs on the album, “Guess” is simple yet has a complex storyline; it invites listeners to relate and be vulnerable about what they are feeling, giving them space to make peace with their thoughts.
The final track on the album, “Yellow Rose,” in my opinion, sounds like the soulful funk Remi has been known for since she released her first couple of songs. This song is a perfect album end; it’s slow and soft, yet packed with punch. Wolf did an amazing job experimenting with many different genres on this album, yet she still stays true to what she’s always been known for; you could hear a song by her and know it’s her even if you aren’t a big fan. This last song really captures what the album comes down to: messy, chaotic, introspective, and emotional.
Overall, this is definitely Remi Wolf’s most mature and best album yet. It’s hard to pick favorites on this one since each day I re-listen and something new sticks out in a song and gets me hooked. I love Wolf's dedication and willingness to experiment. She isn’t scared to do something new even if it’s something she’s never done before, because either way it will land with listeners from all different genre backgrounds. This is a no-skip album for me, and I’m excited to hear more of this new era of Remi Wolf and watch her grow.
RATING: 9.5/10
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