Customer Reviews

Strange Birds

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Since bidding adieu to 'Moist', the outfit that made him a Canadian household name, David Usher has released several solo albums (most recently, 'If God Had Curves' and 'Hallucinations'). While his solo offerings are fairly consistent, 'Strange Birds' is by far the best of the lot. Mixing folk/pop and ambience as always, Usher creates a stark and sad CD that is accessible (both lyrically and melodically) yet still maintains its seriousness as art.

Usher returns to the kind of sound that helped launch his solo career (think a more mature 'Morning Orbit'); rapid, tumbling choruses, whispering, dramatic bridges, acoustic guitar combined with David Gray-esque backbeats, and of course injecting both politics and true love into his lyrics; Usher doesn't take any big chances with his new album, he sticks with what works and although there is nothing completely new or original, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The standout tracks include the uplifting "The Music", the smooth, sad pop-soaked "White Flag", "Happy Endings" (which has PERFECT rainy day vibed acoustic guitar), and "Science" which has an awesome build-up feel, starting off with a whisper and ending up as a scream.

New fans and old fans are guaranteed to appreciate "Strange Birds" in all its shimmery smart-pop glory.

The title of David Usher's latest album comes from a line in track 9, 'Life of Bees.'

The lyrics read as follows: "The wings, they uncurl/ Like the strangest of birds/ We're all breaking down again/ As I look to the sky/ Through the fallout tonight/ We're all breaking down again"

David Usher's expressive vocals, impressive lyrics, and superb band make this the best CD that I have heard in years.

Of course I have my favourite songs, namely The Music, Ugly is Beautiful, and Blue, but by no means are the other songs 'skippable'. Every song is unique and ultimately beautiful. I do not plan on taking this CD out of my CD player for some time.

Absolutely reccomended.

--Robyn