BØRNS is a Michigan singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has been releasing a series of indie psych-pop projects since 2012. He released his first studio album “Dopamine” in 2015, and this right here is his follow-up album. He has also collaborated with artists like Lana Del Rey and Titanic Sinclair, the latter of whom is well known for his collaborations with Poppy, an artist I’m sure some of you are familiar with if you’ve been reading my reviews for a while. (I’M POPPY!) Poppy, we’ve talked about this, you can talk to my readers when I’m reviewing YOUR albums. (I’M POPPY.) No, I’m not saying anything bad about Titanic, I haven’t even met him. I’m just letting my readers know that he’s collaborated with BØRNS. (I’M POPPY.) Good. I’ll see you when you drop your next album. (I’M POPPY!)
Now, where was I? Ah yes, BØRNS is an artist I’m not all that familiar with. Again, this album is being reviewed because a friend requested it. So, I have nothing to expect going into it, and sometimes that can be a good thing, so let’s see if BØRNS delivers with this project.
God Save Our Young Blood (ft. Lana Del Rey): BØRNS kicks off his album with a song that sees him singing about youthfulness and the speed of life alongside Lana Del Rey. The song's got some very dreamy, beautiful electronic production, some really fun percussion, and very great vocal interplay between BØRNS and Lana. Being my first time hearing BØRNS sing, he’s got a very nice, light voice, and he and Lana mesh wonderfully together. This is a nice start to the album!
Faded Heart: Moving right along, BØRNS discusses mortality and romanticism over a much faster-paced instrumental. BØRNS has some more filtered vocals on here, and he shows a little more range on the track as well. Where his vocals were lighter on the opener, he gives us more charisma and energy on this one. I do like the drum-beat and the rocking guitars as well, and while I’m not all that in love with the hook here, I do think this is a very fun song and I definitely see the appeal of it.
Sweet Dreams: A much more nocturnal track, BØRNS takes things just a little slower on this one, with a very laid-back feel as he discusses dreams and lost love. The track is much more minimal in regards to its lyrical content, but that’s fine because it’s led by a groovy bassline and a beat with some very nice bounce to it. I also have to say that I think the song has one of the most captivating choruses on the record. It’s got a really great vibe to it, and the filters on BØRNS’ vocals serve to help him mesh even better with the production. Really digging this one!
We Don’t Care: Another more rocking, fast-paced track with a somewhat more eerie feel to it, this one’s definitely very snappy and it’s got a really great beat. BØRNS also brings another interesting vocal performance here (even though I think the hook could’ve been better), and the bassline on this one is extremely fun as well. Not one of my favorites on the album, but it’s definitely a solid, upbeat track that’s nice to nod your head to.
Man: A track where BØRNS proclaims that he wants to be someone’s man even if the world ends, this one’s got a more hi-hat-driven drum beat and also some really cool piano melodies. The hook is plenty fun, the song has a danceable vibe and BØRNS once again brings plenty of energy with his vocal performance. It’s a bright, poppy track with plenty of bounce and a great feel, and I’m really liking it!
Iceberg: Here, BØRNS talks about his belief that his lover is way out of his league, and that she’s too perfect for him. This one’s a bit more low-key than some of the others, with a more minimal instrumental and hook, but the song does gain some very funk-driven bounce around the midway point, and the bright synths and pounding drum beat really add to the fun factor of the song. And while the hook, as I said, is very minimal, BØRNS has some very solid vocal charm here that makes the track really work as a whole.
Second Night of Summer: Hey, now I’m kinda glad this review is coming right now because, hey, second day of summer…and it’s June..and summer’s kicking off...okay, I’m gonna stop now. Anyway, here, BØRNS mentions how not even the hot weather of the summer can distract him from how badly he is trying to forget about a certain girl. This cut has a somewhat more laid-back but still vibrant feel to it, and I love how BØRNS transitions from having slightly lighter vocals to exploding on the hook. The production is very easy-going and fun, and I definitely think it’s one of the stronger cuts on the record.
I Don’t Want U Back: A more emotional track with more moody production, BØRNS talks about a former lover who seems to have cheated on him and lied about it. The electronic beat on this one is really danceable and exciting, and the production is very dreamy, as are BØRNS' vocals. The hook is also very captivating and interesting, and I think this one is gonna get a ton of replays out of me in the future.
Tension (Interlude): A one-and-a-half minute interlude, this one sees BØRNS talking about a tension that he seems to have with a certain lover, one that leads him to ask said lover to “kick him to the side of the road.” Hmm, never really heard someone asked to be kicked to the curb in a song before. Interesting. Anyway, I actually find this interlude to be pretty damn sweet. I love the bright electronic production, it’s very danceable and vibrant and fun, and even though the track is very short, I think it really sticks and leaves a good impression. I can honestly see myself coming back to it in the future.
Supernatural: BØRNS questions the idea of external forces being an influencer on a song that has some very seductive synths and cool guitar riffs. The song is relatively upbeat but still very atmospheric, and BØRNS does bring the goods with his vocals here. My only big problem with the song is that I’m not all that crazy about the hook, but I do think this cut has a lot of potential to grow on me in the future.
Blue Madonna: Lana Del Rey actually returns to provide some vocals on this very seductive song, as BØRNS pictures a lover running back to him, and him making her feel like a virgin. I like the bassline on this one, and I think BØRNS and Lana once again have some solid vocal interplay, but I don’t think the track sticks with me like some of the others on here, and the lack of a hook doesn’t help as much. It’s certainly not bad, and it might even grow on me in the future, but I don’t find it quite as exciting as some of the other songs on here.
Bye-bye Darling: To close things out, BØRNS sings about the idea of life moving forward and saying goodbye to old times (fitting way to end the album, I might say) on a very piano-driven, ballad-esque track. While the song is led primarily by the piano, there’s also a very nice, light drum beat here along with some of BØRNS’ trademark electronic production. The synths here do feel a little bit out-of-place at times, but they definitely serve to make the song a bit more interesting, and BØRNS' vocals are again quite pleasant. It’s not my personal favorite song on the album, but it’s a thematically fitting song to end off of (given that the lyrics see BØRNS frequently saying goodbye), and I personally couldn’t think of a better song to put at the end. It’s definitely a nice-sounding track, too.
Overall, I’ve got to say, I’m glad I listened to my friend who requested this because I really dig this album! Being my first experience with BØRNS, I find him to be a really compelling and interesting artist that has a really keen ear for production and plenty of vocal charm. I’m also particularly pleased because, with some of my recent reviews from artists/bands like Snow Patrol, James Bay, and Pusha T, where part of me feels like I would’ve enjoyed those projects a little bit more if I was more familiar with the artists’ previous releases, I feel like this is a very accessible album that’s easy to jump into, even if you have no familiarity with BØRNS. I definitely think that he shows a lot of range in his styles, mixing upbeat and danceable songs with more laid-back and atmospheric cuts, and he also shows strong vocal range, mixing in some lighter vocals with more energetic and charismatic performances, and pretty much sticking the landing with each style. Definitely really dig this project, and I’d really like to hear more from BØRNS in the future!
Favorite tracks: God Save Our Young Blood, Sweet Dreams, Man, Iceberg, Second Night of Summer, I Don't Want U Back, Tension (interlude)
Least favorite tracks: Blue Madonna (if I really had to pick one)
Rating: Excellent
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