From the well-known Nickelodeon band to movie stars, brothers Nat and Alex Wolff show how much they’ve matured in sound in their latest album Table for Two.
Nat and Alex Wolff are best known for their mockumentary-style Nickelodeon show The Naked Brothers Band, which was created by their mother Polly Draper. Since the show ended in 2009, the two musicians continued to make music under their names, and even released their first debut album as a duo in 2011 called Black Sheep. The album was significantly different from music they’ve released under NBB, hinting at more sophisticated tones and intricate messaging within songs. The time had came, the Naked Brothers Band would be no more.
The sibling duo continued to rise in fame as both of the brothers’ acting careers spiked, as Alex Wolff featured in cult-classic films like Hereditary and Jumanji, and Nat Wolff starring in Paper Towns and Murder at Yellowstone City. Despite being involved with acting, the duo remains intact with their music roots and have continued to play no matter what. Through instagram lives, they also remained in contact with fans by singing different covers of their older songs. They released a few singles in 2020 during the pandemic, little did everyone know that this would transfer to a new album three years later.
Table for Two aims to show that the brothers have grown up since their debut album, released 12 years ago. Full of ballads, emotional moments and riddled with nostalgia within the lyrics, every song serves as a new era, leading the Wolff brothers in a new direction. Every song is a mantra, a celebration with hints of reminiscence that hit home for anyone with similar perspectives. Unlike Black Sheep, Table for Two is much more than growing out of a phase they will forever be associated with, it’s a way to prove that they are way more than that.
“If I’m Gonna Die” was the first single released from the record, which sheds the message to live life to the fullest. Later on, the second single “Head’s on Loose” served as a juxtaposition to the later, serving as a more personal touch to mental health issues. From a catchy synth line falling to a more heart-wrenching piano tune, fans would see the range this album would contain.
The album is full of songs that stand out, including the jazz-like song “Lucky You.” Starting off with lo-fi vibes and slowly progressing into a punchy chorus line and catchy backing vocals. Another song that stands out from the rest include “Mainline,” a song dominated by piano and echoing vocals. The track features an iconic sax solo in between choruses, as the vocals sound as if they were singing into a telephone. The duo also pay homage to their childhood sound, as the track “All My Plans (Shake)” have a similar chord progression to that of “Flying Away” by the Naked Brothers Band in the first half.
The album ends with the song that started it all – “Glue” is a cheery track that guides listeners through the ups and downs of anxiety, a topic the duo is no stranger to discussing. It ends with a bang, letting everyone know that music is the “glue” that keeps them together no matter what. It differs from the rest of the album sonically, it matches the aesthetic of keeping a consistent introspective.
A new path for Nat and Alex Wolff has resurfaced, and at this point, they can do anything with their sound. They have rebranded themselves away from the Naked Brothers Band but continue to show appreciation for what their childhood band has done for them. The Naked Brothers Band might be no more, but Nat and Alex Wolff live on.
Listen to Table for Two by Nat and Alex Wolff on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Music.
Keylee is a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, Texas. She has received a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston. As an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, she aspires to create her own path as a content creator by bonding with others over the power of local music and media. If she isn’t listening to her favorite band Paramore, you’ll catch her hanging out with her brothers or playing with her husky Luna.
