Just in time for spring
Adult Books harmoniously blossoms with the coming of spring in their recent release Grecian Urn. With a distinct post-punk influence, the record provides the perfect mellow beats for a skate in the park or relaxing with friends outside. Founded by Nick Winfrey, the band pulls inspiration from Los Angeles’ extensive punk history to inform their witty lyrical musings and technical finesse without drowning out their own distinct style.
The most compelling part of Grecian Urn is the way Adult Books used a few simple ingredients—keys, bass, guitar—to create such a detailed track. The band was anything but heavy-handed, allowing for a soft pluck of the bass to slowly blend and fade with the keys in songs like “Grecian Urn.” The mild guitar and paralleled vocals in “Innocence” have so much depth and texture for this reason, as it is easier for the listener to capture each isolated sound.
While tumultuous world events may have influenced some bands to flesh out a harder sound, Adult Books is unafraid to take the road less traveled and paint the way they distinctly see the world. The gentle strum of the guitar in “Florence” neutralizes any potential toxicity in the singer’s voice as he questions, “Do you really know yourself/ Or do you want to be like someone else,” which makes the album feel non-judgemental—a place to relax and step into the mind of another for escapism, an inherent aspect of true artistic production. In songs like “Adriatics,” his vocal inflections in time with the clashing cymbals make him sound like an instrument in his own right, rather than just acting as a vocal mainstage. This touches on another enjoyable aspect of Grecian Urn, the unmistakable human quality in Winfrey’s voice. Especially given the post-punk genre is home to looser vocal deliveries, Winfrey’s evident substantive passion brings a welcome warmth to the album.
Adult Books delivers what only can be called a stellar performance in Grecian Urn. With the right mix of just a few elements, the band scratches every itch a listener could have. With a wonderful sense of flow and instrumental arrangement, it will likely be hard to ignore Adult Books as they continue their career in the post-punk scene.
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