Recommended tracks: “Everytown there’s a darling,” “You”
Artists you may like: Girl Tones, Blondshell, Belle and Sebastian
Despite his thrust into the limelight at a young age, Finn Wolfhard has found a way to stay true to himself through his music. Already a part of the The Aubreys, the Canadian singer-songwriter has extended his discography with the debut solo album, Happy Birthday. With a tracklist consisting of 9 songs, the album pulls heavy inspiration from the late 90s indie rock scene with fuzzed out guitars and distorted vocals. The overall DIY and patchy tone of the project brings out a certain charm that will enthrall lovers of early Elliot Smith and Belle and Sebastian.
Opening the album is the short title track introduction, “Happy Birthday.” A distorted lo-fi piano leads into some just as heavily distorted electric guitars accompanying the overlayed vocals. The dragging melody sets the hidden vulnerability of the album as listeners slowly distinguish the anxiety-ridden lyrics about growing old. Lines such as “it’s your birthday, stop wasting precious time” can be hard to discern, but they set up the overarching themes of the album: coming of age and the insecurities that come along with it. While short, the introduction does its job in establishing what’s to come before the slower tempo is cut short by the single “Choose The Latter.”
The late 90s indie-rock inspirations for the album start to saturate Wolfhard’s sound in this song as the artist divulges his desire for a different life. The brash guitar solo between the verses gives a fun break to the somber lines of “I’m afraid I’ll stick permanently” and “crying shame permanently.” The soundscape of this song is wide with all instruments sounding at a distance, making the song feel like it’s been recorded live in the same room, adding to the DIY sound of the album overall.
The third track, “Eat,” ups the energy even more with almost indiscernible lyrics and an oddly coherent chaos. Every instrument is extremely phased, which only adds to this chaos. The song follows along with the anxieties of the previous songs while also bringing an element of lovesickness in the lyrics: “You got me hooked, I’m a fish on a line.”
While “Eat” works to fall over itself, “Objection!” has a calmer vibe with more acoustic guitars and stripped-back live drums. Although the lyrics in this song are more discernible, understanding the meaning behind them may take some time. The chorus, “The coat that’s soaked from the bar / The cursed witches’ brew,” seems to hint at a love for the winter, supported by the snowy music video. It’ll be interesting to see how fans react to this song and its meaning.
Slowing down the pace even more is the laidback “Everytown there’s a darling,” where Wolfhard treads lightly on a new infatuation. The “oh”s of the chorus are contagious, and a sharp acoustic guitar makes the tune feel like a campfire song. While the song is shorter in comparison to the rest of the album, the sweet tone makes it a standout within Happy Birthday.
A fuller band sound returns in “Trailers After Dark,” a love letter to the rain and nostalgia for the simpler times of youth. The line “Trailers after dark / Rain is to be trusted” was explained by Wolfhard in an online video where he stated that he would watch movie trailers on TV during rainy days. This love for the wet is further emphasised by the line “Crashing through the rocks and the snow.” The yearning for the bygone days of childhood are most felt in this song, where distorted vocals and flute-like synths sit comfortably in the space of remembrance.
This soft flow is cut short by the return of the fast rhythm guitars that take centre stage in “Crown.” While there are still some fun effects, Wolfhard’s vocals are the least processed in this song, but the lyrics holds little to no structure. Instead, the driving guitars direct a stream of consciousness in the lyrics, moving between the present day and the past. The repeating “Can I still have a crown?” in the outro sets the song into overdrive with guitar melodies overlapping one another as the volume fades out. “You” is the penultimate song of the album and is started by the most bare-sounding electric guitars yet. Some string-like synths add a soft but steady texture that’s missing from the rest of the album, and the overall tone feels much more comfortable.
Finally, finishing off Happy Birthday is “Wait,” in which the live-room sound from early in the album returns. As a closer, the song pulls off a balancing act between the chaotic first half of the album and the more relaxed second half; there’s a harsh tone on the instruments against a slower tempo and melody. The heavily panned vocal layering also offers a more live-room sound to the song, which comes off as oddly charming and endearing. Lines like “the great beyond wraps around my feet” highlight not only Wolfhard’s fear of the future, but also the overall retrospective nature of the album — looking back on the end of childhood. It’s lyrics such as these that can get a bit lost and overlooked by Worfhard’s focus on the instrumentation of his music. While it is clear what sound and tone the singer-songwriter wants from his music, it can sometimes overshadow his disarming style of songwriting that is hidden behind the guitars.
Happy Birthday is a stellar debut album that invites audiences into Finn Wolfhard’s reflections on life whilst also showing what’s to come from what I expect to be a long music career. If you want to hear this indie rock album live, Wolfhard is currently taking it on tour across North America. Tickets and information can be found here.
