Good morning and welcome to Saturday! I had a good week of musical discovery this week, and after I’m done here I’m going to go run a few chores and maybe even pop into my local record stores in the hope that some of those discoveries are lurking in the stacks.
Disc 1472 is…. Self-Titled
Artist: Birds of Chicago
Year of Release: 2012
What’s up with the Cover? A swallow and a crow regard one another from opposite corners of this album cover. The crow, firmly settled down in what I assume is a suburban Chicago neighbourhood remarks, “So, staying in town long?” To which the swallow replies, “no, just passerine through.”
That’s a joke for the birders and ornithologists in the audience. You’re welcome. To the rest of you, my apologies.
How I Came To Know It: I read about this band in some obscure songwriter magazine. Likely American Songwriter, but I can’t be sure. I quickly fell for them and somehow got my hands on this album. I think maybe in a CD rack in either Portland or San Francisco, but I can’t be sure.
How It Stacks Up: I have two Birds of Chicago album, and this one comes in at #2, landing short of the exceptional standard set by “Real Midnight” back at Disc 1157 .
Ratings: 3 stars
I am an unpublished author. Over the years, many people have encouraged me to self-publish, but (notwithstanding this blog) I’ve always felt clearing the hurdle of getting an agent and a book deal is the proof I need to know my work is worthy of having strangers read it. Not unlike writing, music is also a land where you can sign to a label or self-publish. For their first album, Birds of Chicago did not have any of my reservations, funding this record with a Kickstarter campaign. I’m sure this goes wrong many times over, but in this case the result is very much worthy of having strangers hear it. Let’s delve in, shall we?
Birds of Chicago are composed of duo JT Nero and Allison Russell. Nero plays guitar and Russell plays a whole bunch of stuff (including guitar). Various additional musicians flesh out the tunes with more complicated arrangements.
However, let’s just get right down to what makes this band great, and that’s Allison Russell’s voice. Powerful, effortless and with a poignancy that will break your goddamn heart when she hits the upper register on songs like “Before She Goes.” JT Nero also sings and has a light gravel to his tone that is pleasant on its own and creates compelling harmonies with Russell when occasion demands.
The music is American folk, infused with other influences, particularly gospel, which gives songs like “Cannonball” and “Moonglow Tapeworm” the sway and celebratory swing they need to work.
The songs are united in a smooth, chill vibe that flow over you. Sometimes the band is making a point, and sometimes the songs feel more like mood pieces, but they are united in that relaxed swing. The level of musicianship also helps, sitting down in the pocket, feeling calm and unhurried. This ability to find a song’s soul without appearing to try too hard is what separates good folk music from great.
Lyrically, I found the record a bit of a mixed bag. “Old Calcutta” is saturated with language that has no business working, with lines like:
“And then someone comes
along and says that Pluto’s not a planet
How I wished with
all my heart he had not said it
Can we not come
together and take a stand against this madness?
But I am a man who
cries, without knowing why he’s crying
But I know there are
rivers flowing way beneath the surface here
And phantom shapes
of meaning beyond all understanding.”
And yet, when you hear JT sing this, it fills your mind with a celestial angst, even as the tune behind (chill as ever) reminds you things are going to be OK. Fear not, you’re just trippin’ on the universe, my friend.
Other times, such lyrically bravery doesn’t work so well, such as on “Trampoline” where the central metaphor feels forced into an otherwise solid tune. Kind of like that star shape that looks like it will fit in the square hole of that kid’s game, but only goes in after a lot of applied force and warped plastic.
These missteps are few and far between, however, and for the most part the Birds of Chicago were right in their conviction that this music was ready for the world, and Soulless Record Execs be damned. Listening you’ll feel a little wiser, and a little more relaxed despite life’s rocky patches.
Best tracks: Cannonball, Before She Goes, Moonglow Tapeworm, Flying Dreams, Old Calcutta, Humboldt Crows
