Insecure indie pop.
After John Brodeur adopted Bird Streets as his nom de guerre in 2018, he has gone on to make two more albums. His third and most recent, The Escape Artist, brings an existential addition to his discography. The best parts of the music are in the rhythmic drums and melodic guitar. The vocals are not inherently impressive, however the lyrics are clever at times. The highlight of this album are the four singles, each with their own music video.
“The Mistaker” does not bore and gets straight to the very catchy chorus. You’ll be humming along to it for a few days. The lyrics are basic, but pull it off. The music video shows a story of a man who fails his mission. The cinematography is fine, with some fuzzy shots and inconsistent lighting.
“Everyonewelovewillgoaway” has an Arabic style rock guitar that gives a unique sound and a tambourine that controls the pacing. The song embodies the lonely nihilistic theme of the album with lyrics like “All my friends are insane. All my friends are in my brain,” implying he has no friends and is insane.
“Run For Our Lives” continues the trend of having a catchy chorus, and every time it hits, it hits. It’s the perfect tune for your “Chipotle Lunch Adventure” playlist. The music video is highly reminiscent of Panic! At The Discos’ music video for “But It’s Better If You Do.” They both start out in black and white and shift to a stage of sorts with colorful costumes. However, this may be a coincidence as there is no direct reference. There is a sick guitar solo, which in the video is accompanied by a groovy dance. This is the best song on the LP and it’s not much of a competition.
The final single, “It’s A Start,” has a slower tempo and a relaxed atmosphere. The music video is a psychedelic zoo in space. It’s a little trippy and is an artist choice. It’s a cute song that doesn’t try too hard to impress. It is what it is.
The album at its core is a collection of songs about existential feelings and self doubt. There are some talented fun parts, like the acoustic guitar in the opening song “Bedhead,” or the guitar solo in “Run For Our Lives.” Though it lacks inspiration, it’s a solid album with a few hits.
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