Jade Bird Embraces Engaging Pop Rock Tone With ‘Who Wants to Talk About Love’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Jade Bird’s newest album is titled Who Wants to Talk About Love, and the English-born, Los Angeles-based pop/Americana artist has a lot to say on the subject, especially the aftermath. 

All the songs on this album explore the dissolution of relationships. While there may be multiple influences, the most significant and overarching theme is the recent breakup of her engagement to her former bandmate and partner, Luke Prosser. Bird has always written earnestly using her Americana roots as a template, but like on past offerings, Bird mixes those up with layers of pop shine.

The album fluctuates between softer, more understated heartbreak numbers and grandiose excursions. The opening “Stick Around” sets the tone as the breakup song poses the question via just Bird’s voice and acoustic guitar, before building to a full-band, dramatic sound. The track, like all the others, runs short, getting to the lyrical point without overdoing it. Those lyrics can sometimes feel generic and straightforward; however, Bird’s vocals have taken the next step, as she manages to sound both vitally urgent and more subdued and heartbroken with ease.  

On that softer, more country-influenced side are efforts like the understated “How to Be Happy,” which strums with acoustic guitars and breathy singing before easy snares shuffle along. Bird’s vocals are expertly light on the gorgeously fluttering “Avalanche,” while “Einstein” brings in more Americana vibes with weepy strings. 

Bird piles on the pop polish with over-the-top dramatic vocals for the pumped-up “Dreams,” which goes large with instrumentation and production, while “Save Your Tears” keeps the galloping big sound moving, adding choir-like backup vocals. “Who Wants” straddles both of Bird’s main influences, starting sparse and moving towards cinematic swelling to close.  

The album wraps up with the hushed “Wish You Well” as Bird tries to forgive, forget, and move on. That sentiment seems half-hearted, though, after all the hurt and heartbroken emotions Bird works on throughout the documentary Who Wants to Talk About Love.