Happy Saturday, Wrockers! This Saturday I’m reviewing Rise Up, Wands Up by Totally Knuts! Totally Knuts is run by TK a non-binary wizard focused on representing the LGBTQ+ community in their work. Topical and melodic, this is a soundtrack for the activist in your life. Released in June of 2020, I feel this album will remain relevant for a long time to come.
The Songs
The first track, Expelliarmus, introduces the theme with lines like “expelliarmus, make the tear gas disappear”. A protest song at heart, I imagine this being sung at wizard rock concert while everyone sways together (with our masks on, of course). It’s also so good to hear “black lives matter” in a wizard rock song.
During the last review, we had a song from 2008 thanking Jo Rowling for the potter universe and in Sit Down, the second track of the album, we have the exact opposite. “We see you now for who you truly are,” this song says, echoing the thoughts of a lot of disappointed Harry Potter fans.
What I really enjoy about this album is that it doesn’t hold back any punches. Using the best qualities of each Hogwarts house, Totally Knuts asks us to take a page from what the books taught us about inclusivity. The vocals in this song and all the others are perfect for this message – stern and melodic.
We need more songs about Lee Jordan! The commentary between him and McGonagall in the books still make me laugh. It immediately made me think about allyship and how the best thing someone with privilege can do is pass the mic to those with less.
My partner was listening to this album with me, and 20 Second Guidelines was a quick favorite for her. This 20-second song talks about how difficult social distancing can be when we’re away from our friends but asks us to keep looking forward to when the pandemic is over. Another topical song on this wrock protest album!
The Quill of Acceptance is something I can get behind! This quill is judgment-free and saves you a spot in Hogwarts no matter your social status or identity. Giving me House of Awesome (now accepting all freedom fighters on horseback) vibes, it’s always good to be reminded that Hogwarts is for everyone.
I needed to hear this song. Show Up is my favorite song on the album. Totally Knuts sings acapella and uses harmonies reminiscent of Appalachian folk songs to tell us to be there for the people that mean the most to us. Let me call my mom, real quick.
“I hope you love yourself the way that I do.” Speaking of people we love, Protego song asks us if we know how valuable, valid, and worthy we all are of kindness and affection. A very sweet song that is great to play for a friend struggling through a tough time.
Following the steps of Sit Down, Open at The Close is another song for Jo Rowling letting her know that her opinions on how others live aren’t welcomed in the potter universe. I think that as wrock continues, we’ll hear more songs taking the story back from the troubled author.
The final track on the album, Consider is for the person in your life who doesn’t make the effort to understand the people and world around them. The world would be a better place if we would all stop to consider someone else’s perspective.
Rating
Using Ukeleles and beautiful harmonies to express messages of inclusivity, we are given an important wizard rock album from Totally Knuts. The songs have the same feel and format of many classic protest songs. Simplicity and truth guide this album and make it all the more powerful to listen to.
I rate this album 20/10 Buckbeaks!
Find more from Totally Knuts below!
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