Record of the Month Curator

Curated by Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket

I got pulled into the Futurebirds' futureworld a few years ago. They reached out to me about doing some recording, so we all got together and began working on some of their songs in my home studio. All 8 of us packed into my studio space in a circle and dug into working on songs. It was a total blast, a whirlwind of personalities, songs, guitars, a campfire, and some cold beverages.

Then, as we were tracking more songs in Creative Workshop Studio here in Nashville, Carter King, one of the 3 singers/songwriters in the band, said, "Hey, why don't we do one of your songs?" I was a bit reluctant at first, but it ended up giving me a first-hand experience of what being in this particular band is like. It's a welcoming world, this futureworld.

It's like this: when any one of the band members takes on the role of singer, everyone else shifts into a support role. How can I help this song? What should I play? I don't need to control this one; it's up to him. I may have an idea to help, but I won't force it; I will follow you where you want to take it. What we came up with was definitely something I never could have or would have done alone. I loved the experience. It was unexpected; I was just planning on helping out with their tunes, and the fact they even asked meant the world. I feel like this is what any great musical group should feel like. We did this all together, like we all had our hands on the ouija board, and here's what came out!

All in all, we recorded 2 EPs together, then we did a lot of shows which turned into the "Thanks Y'all" live album. Touring with the Birds is a blast. It's wild and loose, it's strange breakfasts at diners in the middle of nowhere, it's long slightly hungover afternoons in the van trying to make it to the next show, it's taking a risk on a new song or cover, or just making something up right then and there. It's a giant family of folks who come to sing and dance, friends crowd the backstage rooms, constant conversation and laughter. They've been at it for over 10 years, and after a decade there's no more need to count years; they'll just keep on rolling, keep on "Movin' On".

By my count, the Birds have released 7 albums and 6 EPs so far. The catalog is deep; once you dig into it all, it reveals so much. Different approaches, different voices, different styles are all in there. And this new record clearly feels like their best so far. So you can totally start here, and go backwards, or start from the beginning; it won't matter! I did not have anything to do with creating this one, so I am back to being just a happy fan here, which is a great spot!

Since I've been listening to Easy Company, I keep finding new favorite lines in songs that just hit me as so perfect, and so indicative of this band like:

"Now I'm all grown up, you think I learned my lessons but I'll always be the way that I am" (from Alright). To me, Womack has summed up his own band in 3 lines; they are charging ahead, doing what they do, picking up steam and lessons along the way through hundreds of shows, but no matter what happens in the future, they will always be the Birds.

I also love this one:

"Looking for something that I lost, I think it's time we took the swimmies off" (from Soft Drugs). I love how Tojo's (Thomas's) songs can both make you smile and break your heart simultaneously.

And from Carter, I am loving this line:

"When the day turns us back into strangers, I'm gonna hold this tight" (from Easy Company). Who hasn't had a long late night with connections that feel so powerful in the moment, and then the "real world" of the morning comes and takes it all away? To keep that sweet feeling going, that's what these guys have achieved with this new great-sounding album.

I hope you find your favorite lines in there, for there are so many, and I hope you take the time to come see a live Futurebirds show!

Carl Broemel