The Bye Bye Blackbirds

August Lightning Complex

Self Released

This album almost overflows with meaning and significance. The music is heavy pop, but nothing is overdone. There isn’t a wasted note, and it's produced with a lot of common sense; it rocks out, but isn't macho, it's mature.

Lyrically, these romantic up and downs aren't melodramatic or overwrought, just looked at in a clear-eyed way. Even when there are relationship problems, they know they can be talked out, not fought about. In other words, life and romance aren’t a horror movie, even on the album’s darkest track, “Marching,” with its haunted refrain of “gone, just gone.” When something is gone, it’s just gone, and that it, nothing else to say. Let’s put everything in proper perspective is a theme that runs through the entire album.

It’s wonderful in a memorable way. These songs and what they represent will stay with you. You’ll want to hear this album over and over.

Andrea Weiss