album review: sister sparrow and the dirty birds

When Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds‘ debut album of the same name opens with “Untie My Shoelaces”, the listener is introduced to everything I like about the band: the depths of lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe’s sultry voice backed by a huge, bluesy, rock and reggae instrumental powerhouse. While the production of the debut album makes it at times difficult to keep track of how good this mix is, all you need to do is head over to the band’s MySpace and check out their live videos to understand why they’re so good.

I was first researching the band about a month ago and was not immediately so supportive. One of my coworkers defended Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds to me with great vigor, and it took me a little while to realize why he was right. The longer I listen to the album, the more I like it. The riffs are infectious, the lyrics easy to sing along to and it’s the kind of music that makes you want to dance. Their sound is uniquely American in its melting and mixing of classic genres to produce something that is, at its best, mind-blowing.

The only criticism I have of the band is that the band feels a little forced when it should be (forgive the play on words) soaring. As talented as Arleigh is – and it’s undeniable, her voice stops you in your tracks – the band lets itself get outweighed by her vocals more than it should. This process also puts a lot of strain on her voice, and you can definitely hear when she’s trying hard. The Dirty Birds are an awesome backing band whose harmonica solos and heavy horns give the band a funky, soul feeling, and it’s a shame for that to be overshadowed. Several times throughout the album, especially apparent to me on “Boom Boom” and “Who Are You”, the Dirty Birds could have gone farther and done better but instead are somehow competing with Sister Sparrow.

On the other hand, though, that delicate junction of solid musicianship and killer voice really hits a home run at other points on the album. “Freight Train”, “Eddy” and especially “My House” achieve true Sister Sparrow harmony: Arleigh’s voice is showcased and pushed to its furthest points without overpowering the band, and the band is heavy enough to match her vocal talents without competing with her. What keeps me coming back to Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds are these moments of musical genius, and I hope the next album features this sound more prominently.

Altogether, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds is an impressive album from musicians that really care about their craft. Their dedication is especially perceptible when seeing the band live. I caught their album release party earlier this month and had a blast. Their fanbase and live presence could have fooled even the toughest of critics: they are a verifiable rock-and-roll band on a fast track to mainstream exposure.