British singer-songwriter Frankie Bird’s debut LP, Up Until Now, is a heartfelt and guitar-centric collection of songs that channels the wistful spirit of 90s alternative rock into a sound that feels strikingly new and intimately her own. The eight-track project reads like a diary entry of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, all led by Frankie’s haunting voice and an ear for melody.
The album makes the most of a plump full-band production. The songs shimmer with jangly electric guitars, emotive vocal lines, and a rhythmic pulse that propels the record. Every song is bursting with personality and warmth, revealing Frankie’s knack for combining infectious hooks with honest storytelling, true indie.
The opener wastes no time establishing a precedent of unapologetic emotion. At the same time, standout tracks like “Big World” and “A Lucky Day” are imbued with the sort of cinematic energy and awed reverence associated with gazing rapturously into existential distance. “Past Life,” for its part, is an introspective stretch that forces you to consider the beauty and pain of memories that never quite fade.
Throughout "Up Until Now," Frankie Bird exhibits the vulnerability and confidence of two distinct personality types found in the best singer-songwriters. Her lyrics are refreshingly unguarded, her delivery seemingly effortless and full of feeling. There’s a depth to her emotion, found immediately, demonstrating that in a crowded indie landscape like hers, one with serious heart can still stand out from the pack.
With "Up Until Now," Frankie Bird establishes herself as a strong and exciting new voice in British indie pop/rock, announcing her arrival as an artist with vision and durability. This is the sort of debut that sticks around long after the last song has faded.
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