Blues Pills: Birthday Review

The multinational, Swedish-based rock and roll outfit Blues Pills returns to the scene’s forefront with the recently released Birthday, their fourth full-length effort. Written and recorded in just over ten days in the bucolic Swedish countryside, the record is an eclectic collection that blends blues rock, soul, funk, psychedelia, and pop.

Formed in 2011, Blues Pills quickly gained attention for their powerful, retro-based sound, driven by, in great part, by vocalist Elin Larsson’s larger-than-life voice and stage presence. Of course, much of the band’s appeal also resides in the formidable rhythm section of drummer André Kvarnström and bassist Kristoffer Schande and the tasteful guitar work of Zack Anderson. Birthday showcases the group’s ever-evolving sound as they slowly drift away from their more heavy blues origins (akin to compatriots Witchcraft and Graveyard) towards more sunny bursts of psychedelia, soul and funk. 

The record kicks off with its energetic title track, setting the tone for what is to follow. Driven by a funky guitar strut and a soaring chorus, “Birthday” oozes confidence and, by the time it concludes, you’re hooked. The second track, “Don’t You Love It,” builds on this energy and keeps the bar high with its bass-driven rhythm and infectious chorus, proving that, despite its short conceiving time frame, the album is no rush job.

 “Bad Choices” starts off with a bass-heavy riff before exploding into a funk-laden fest with yet another great chorus and superb rhythm work, while “Top of the Sky”, a ballad that pulls in influences from 50s vocal pop and 60s psychedelia, shifts things to a softer, dreamier side.

If you’re looking for a few surprises, “Piggyback Ride” has a touch of modern mainstream pop, but don’t worry—it’s still got enough grit in the guitar riffs to keep things from getting too polished. 

Contrastingly, “Shadows” stands out with its bluesy slide guitar and dramatic vocal lines. It feels almost cinematic— as if it could be the perfect soundtrack to a modern neo-western film. Concluding the record, “What Has This Life Done To You” adds another layer of soul-filled artistry to the proceedings.

Though less blues-heavy than the band’s previous work, Birthday is a very enjoyable listen. The songs are well-crafted, the performances are tight, and the production brings out the best in each number. The only possible drawback is the absence of that “killer” track that defines the album in the way that certain songs did on the group’s earlier releases (“Devil Man”, “Little Sun”, and “Lady In Gold” quickly spring to mind). On the whole, though, Birthday is a strong record that feels both retro and refreshingly original and that will certainly appeal to rock fans of all generations.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Birthday
– Top of The SkyZ
– Shadows
– What This Life Has Done To You
– Bad Choices

The Big Hit

– Bad Choices