Review Summary: Knowing is the first step
I’ve never written a review for an album by someone I know personally, despite having the opportunity to on multiple occasions. When you’re in a band you’re constantly surrounded by amazing musicians that are often times also your close friends. So when these people release music the songs become glaringly real, breathing a life into the songs filled with a sense of understanding. Jordan Weinstock is the lead singer and spirit behind the moniker
american poetry club, but he's also a former bandmate and good friend of mine. Listening to
glad to be here, etcetera is not only a pleasant and wispy lo-fi adventure, but it is also a revealing painting of who Jordan is as a person.
I’ve often talked about honesty when reviewing really well-done albums, many times citing emotion as the signal to how truthful an album sounds. Although most of these songs are full of emotion, the differences in tone rely on the subtleties - moments of longing versus somber encounters. Yet, it’s not the emotion itself that proves to be the most revealing feature, but rather it’s the little quirks within the music and lyrics. These instances range from the electro-swing-meets-twee intro in ‘okaycool 2’ to the breathtakingly atmospheric minute of (what Jordan says is) ‘how it feels to kiss trees’. Everything is purposefully placed, yes, but it’s the culmination of the pieces that truly unveils the character behind the music, almost like an expected signature mark. Although I have the obvious advantage of assessing such a point it’s easy to say that Jordan is being completely real on this EP which is both a beautiful thing and an impressive feat for something that lasts less than 10 minutes. This type of honesty is something I’ve only experienced within live performances and assorted candid recordings, so having it in the form of an album is a special little gift.
glad to be here, etcetera is very simply a brief exploration into the realm of lo-fi and twee music, akin to artists like Fraternal Twin and a quieter Julia Brown. At its core, the album is just Jordan and his guitar, but often times some friends come by to visit in the form of guest vocals and sparse drumming. Highlight ‘underneath the pillows’ utilizes both of these elements, meandering around a simple yet lovely melody that carries the song into the melancholy air. Jordan solemnly contemplates “
if I had to kill you, I guess I would but I wouldn’t want to” to conclude the track in a catchy yet haunting fashion. I’ll never forget the first time I heard the song because I vividly remember smiling. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in 10 minutes.
