Exceptional recording from Maryland’s Red Birds.
The Red Birds return with an album that explores the human condition, its flaws, constant anxiety, and even boredom, leaving a pocket of hope that underneath all is good. “Things We Thought We Were Done With” moves on from their previous collection “Tell Me Lies” which is magnificent. The music is simple drum, bass, and guitar with plaintive, heartfelt vocals capturing moments in time.
The trio came together during the pandemic. Married duo Zoë and Dan August are joined on drums by Sam Williamson. Based in Maryland, many of their songs were formed on the porch during those dark times for musicians. A short collection called “Franks” was released in May 2021 and was stripped-down demo-type recordings from the front porch sessions, complete with background noises from the wild. The brilliantly titled ‘Peanut Butter and Government Cheese’ is worth a listen.
The latest set keeps that rustic feel with just a bit more polish. The record begins with the song ‘Flat’. Zoë August dives straight into it with the words “Feeling flat, put my face on / Say good morning, how you do” with a bluesy, plaintive style that suits the music. She tries to lift that flat feeling, including a $300 brand-new hairdo. You get that brooding feeling that nothing is going to work.
The single ‘Crickets’ begins with a simple seeping bass line, and August laments the drudgery of life and escapes into a bottle, singing with the crickets on the porch. “On the porch, I’m singing to the moon / Crickets singing with me / I know they’ll be gone soon”. An incredibly clever, funny, but at the same time, sad line. There are so many life issues in the words that it can almost become overwhelming, but the feeling is that there are moments in life worth living for amongst it all. Plenty of moments here take “Things We Thought We Were Through With” to the next level and keep you coming back for another listen. Track six, ‘Happy,’ is a gliding celebration of simple pleasures: running through a yard, finding a flower in the dirt, singing just for the sake of it. But at the end of it all, that simple question is, “Are we happy?”.
‘The James’ is just an incredible five minutes of music. The Red Birds go to an even higher level with the lyrics and the delivery. There is a relentless drumbeat, never changing like a slow march. Think of the Drive-By Truckers ‘Danko / Manuel’ as a comparison. The song takes on a strange and wonderful direction when the ghosts from the past join in. Hairs on your neck will stand up, and goosebumps may appear. Over headphones, it is as if they are standing right behind you. “We were in the kitchen, and we sang with all our friends / All the ghosts sang along / All the lovers sang along”. The writing and delivery are exceptional.
‘Spinning’ may remind you of the 80s Joy Division tune ‘The Eternal’ from their album “Closer” if you were around during those post-punk times. This scrambling around for comparisons is, however, futile, as although the Red Birds borrow ideas, they never actually sound like anyone else. The song explores a car accident and feeling out of control. The drum and bass hold the song together, and the vocals have an almost out-of-body feeling as Zoë August sings, “Only ringing in my ears / Close my eyes, it’s all I hear”.
The complex subject of an abusive partner is broached in ‘And So It Goes’. The woman believes there is still love hidden behind the punches and lack of control, telling people, “She is just a clumsy little thing”. A baby comes along, and the years pass, leading to days of getting high to escape until the real getaway.
A contender for album of the year, this is an astounding collection of songs delivered in a way that only the Red Birds could—a genuinely unique blend of indie, folk, and americana. Join them on the porch; the toads and crickets are already there.
