The Bluest Sky is a New England alt-country band formed by Chuck Melchin, the former frontman of cult-favourites The Bean Pickers Union. After 15 years of regional touring with his previous collective, Melchin started fresh with this new Americana project.
The album delivers warm, unhurried, and soul-lifting musical vignettes rooted in nature, travel, and human relationships. While Melchin’s distinct vocals invite inevitable comparisons to The Bean Pickers Union, ‘Birdland’ charts a new path with a more muscular, plugged-in sound.
Musically ‘Magpie’ could sit on any of Tom Petty’s later albums, while lyrically it finds inspiration in a road trip taken by Melchin. Title track, ‘Birdland’ has all the upbeat vibes of The Allman Brothers, complete with nifty twin guitar solo.
‘Birdland’ marks the fourth release from The Bluest Sky and features a stellar backing band comprising of: Jabe Beyer, Andy Santospago, Jess Fox, Dave Westner, and keyboardist Jen Gunderman, best known for her time with The Jayhawks and her current high-profile role as Sheryl Crow’s primary keyboardist.
The sweet laid back tones of ‘Snowbird’ are inspired by another road trip and finds Melchin’s lyrics imagining a character struggling with anxiety and social interaction. The thumping rocker, while ‘Motel’ is a driving, up tempo rock track that spins a cinematic tale of a couple evading the law.
‘Birdland’ proves Chuck Melchin is a song crafter of immense talent. His clever, authentic lyrics pair flawlessly with catchy arrangements that grow richer with every repeated listen.