“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged.”
Although American Authors are receiving a lot of attention from pop culture, they’ve adopted none of the restrictions that come along with the limelight. Instead, they’re spreading awareness of their rebellious indie pop across the world. Nothing shares that word better than Oh, What A Life. You’ve heard the single “Best Day Of My Life”, a song that went from subscriber-only radio obscurity to playing on every mainstream radio station in the country faster than it’s length of three minutes and fourteen seconds. On their debut full length, the band pulls even more free flying indie pop out of their musically inclined arsenal to deliver one of your favorite albums of summer 2014.
The best word to describe Oh, What A Life is free. From the first song, “Believer”, it’s clear you’re in for a motivating set of tracks. This is a melody that can change your entire point of view. On your day, on your week, on your life. The almost tribal drumbeat is the highlight of the track, the perfect accompaniment to the “bright new day” feel.
Another notable track on the album is “Home”. It changes up the vibe, and takes things down a notch to showcase vocalist Zac Barnett. With an acapella start, strong bass and synth-y keyboard to its name, the only thing that could make it better would be an ending of epic proportions–which is exactly what it has. The final seconds are loud and in your face, leaving your energy high for the next song.
After “Believer” but before “Home” sits “Luck.” Hands down the best song on the album, it’s like blossoms and fresh air. It’s the start of a brand new world. Watch as any restraints around you get torn down and replaced with the feeling that all your goals are more attainable than ever. A Chinese influence in the form of a guzheng and paradoxically strong lyrics (“I’m sorry for how I up and left this town / Please just listen cause I don’t ask for much / I am my own man, I make my own luck”) add to the song’s attributes. If you’re feeling run down, “Luck” will reenergize you the same way warm spring days turn the world green again.
“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged,” and this album is one of them. Oh, What A Life is entirely fresh and is a sound that has never been introduced to the public on such a large scale. An adventurous bad-mood-cure, there are few problems this album can’t help you conquer. Listen to it with an open mind. You just might get a new perspective out of it.
Buy It, Stream It, or Skip It?
Buy it. Buy it twice!
