The title of Floorbird’s new EP spoke to me when going through my list of albums to review. ‘Fall Apart Anywhere’. That’s kind of my motto these days. I feel like I can have a breakdown at any given time and at any given place. You may snicker at that but I think that deep down you are feeling the same way. We live in strange times and even the smallest thing can set off a monumental breakdown. I don’t know what I expect out of this EP so let’s dig in, shall we?
Whoa, hello nostalgia! “I’m Not Nervous” kicks this quick EP off in the most perfect way for a nostalgia seeker like myself. Think Dashboard Confessional meets Mae with a little something more poppy, like The Maine. As I low key suspected, the lyrics instantly hit me right in the gut. I was going to try and pick out a certain line to put in here but this entire song is just perfect lyrically. To me, it talks about anxiety, being tired, and, well, just falling apart anywhere. I know I always talk about music being an escape and it may be hard to understand why I like lyrics that hit me to the core when I’m trying to escape my life but, the truth is, songs like “I’m Not Nervous” help remind you that you aren’t alone and that’s exactly what an escape should be.
The nostalgia continues with “Navy Blue” but takes more of a pop-punk turn. Think Halifax and maybe a little bit of Armor for Sleep thrown in there. The beat is fast-paced and the drums drive that beat even faster while the vocals stay cool, calm, and collected. Although I could easily pick out a million bands to compare Floorbird to, they have this odd way of making their nostalgic sounding music feel modern. I’m not sure how to put words to what I’m trying to say so you’ll just have to trust me on this. Their sound a clear nod to the bands of days gone by but also new and refreshing.
Things slow down just a bit for “700 Meters”. The driving drumbeat drops off and a plucking guitar takes over before creating a soundscape of beauty. Even when the full band comes in, things stay calm and you are able to hear just how talented this band is musicianship wise and songwriting wise. I have to be honest, I kind of drifted off during this track just because it brought me so much peace. The transition into “Thawing Out” is smooth and “Thawing Out” kind of keeps with the calmer vibe while amping it up volume-wise a bit. The lyrics of “Thawing Out” were more than perfect for me tonight. “December Outside, the air is ice. It Never snows this early…” (okay, sure the next line is “except tonight” but that ruins it since it’s not snowing here tonight). What I’m trying to say is I feel like I was drawn to the album because of the album title but this was just meant to be heard tonight. The rises and falls in this song are brilliant. Can you tell I love this track? Yeah, this was a favorite of mine, and got a few listens before I moved on.
At just under five minutes, “Pale Blue Dot” is the longest track on this six-song EP and it definitely made an impact. This track is pure Dashboard Confessional-styled nostalgia. Much like what happened during “700 Meters”, I found myself just kind of drifting off when listening to “Pale Blue Dot”. Do not take that to mean this track is boring because it’s not. It’s more that the beautiful just comes over you and the waves of instrumentation and vocals just kind of take you over and make you lose yourself completely. This is a great quality that I feel like so many bands try to pull off but never quite nail it. Floorbird absolutely nails it and then some.
I never wanted this EP to end but, all good things must come to an end. Thankfully, ‘Fall Apart Anywhere’ ends on a high note and that high note is “I Brought You A Blanket”. The lyrics of this track screamed The Early November while the instrumentation still whispered Dashboard Confessional. Seriously, I love the way that Floorbird can fill each song with so much nostalgia while still being them and being refreshing. This closing track is a perfect example of that.
I picked this album tonight purely based on the title. I had no expectations but admittedly had high hopes for it. Thankfully, Floorbird didn’t let me down and instantly found a spot on the daily playlist of my life with this brilliant EP.
My Favorite Track(s): “I’m Not Nervous”; “Thawing out”
For Fans Of: Nostalgia; Feelings; All-Too-Real Lyrics
Daydream-ability: 7 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie laid on the back of the couch; autumn screamed at me from the kitchen for no apparent reason
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 8 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 7.8 out of 10
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Check out ‘Fall Apart Anywhere’ HERE!
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