Adjective Animal is the solo project of rhythm section player Jon Birkholz. While spending time playing in a handful of bands around Baltimore, MD, Jon realized that he needed an outlet for music he was writing on his own on a regular basis. The format, like the band name, comes from a standard two guitar bass and drums rock group but the music explores the line between digital and analog. Influenced by electronic music on the one hand and the use of effects on the other, the songs usually start out on drum machine and synths and are then the parts are recreated with live instruments.
Adjective Animal’s upcoming album America’s Got Talons (due out January 1st, 2021) is a breakup album, written partly during the confusion leading up to the end of the relationship and partly afterward. The songs are several years old at this point, but like a lot of the past they become clearer in hindsight. After rehearsing this music and playing a few shows, the parts were all put down on a tascam 488mkii 8 track cassette recorder. The album gets its name from a misunderstanding about the name of a distortion pedal.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the track “> Song,” a standout on the new album. Firing off with proggy, guitar-driven instrumentals, the song finds Birkholz tapping into a sound that is reminiscent of White Denim but with more of a synthy backbone. Complexly layered guitars and drums interweave throughout the song while choir-like harmonies soar above, making this a strangely enjoyable exploration of what happens when prog meets indie rock.Â
Adjective Animal leader Jon Birkholz says:
“This song is about noticing the signs that your partner has moved on because you recognize them from the early part of your own relationship with them. It’s kind of like that piece of advice you see sometimes where if someone is willing to bend the rules of their former relationship to be with you, they will do the same with you too eventually. I noticed that my partner got super into a new hobby but didn’t want me to hang out with her new friends and would get mad if I showed up to support her. A few days after we broke up I saw her outside her new place with someone from her team and I was like … oh yeah of course… I guess we sort of met under similar circumstances so I shouldn’t be surprised.”
LISTEN:
