It feels good to be right. But what about when you’re not so sure? There’s something humane about uncertainty and having the guts to try, even if you might be wrong. This is the central tenet of Humbird’s third album, Right On, a radical ethos worth turning up the amps for.
Siri Undlin and her collaborators tracked live and to tape over two weeks in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Anger and dismay sizzle in response to current events, with heartbreak feeling like sandpaper and wildflowers bobbing in an ever-expanding universe.
Produced by Shane Leonard and featuring Pat Keen (bass, synth, percussion) and Pete Quirsfeld (drums, percussion), most songs showcase a locked-in rock trio, progressing from Undlin’s previous contemplative folk musings. Right On also incorporates whimsical, soundscape-y improvisations—electrified, gritty, Midwest Americana with a bit of magic.
The title track “Right On” opens with resigned tenacity, transforming “being wrong” into guiding wisdom. Other notable tracks include “Child Of Violence,” exploring white supremacy in middle America; “Cornfields and Roadkill,” reminiscent of Tom Petty; and “Song For The Seeds,” a slow-burning synth number.
Undlin, inspired by her extensive folklore and musical research as a Watson Fellow, toured DIY across North America, including backyard shows during the pandemic. Following Pharmakon and Still Life, Right On witnesses the world’s complexity with candid consideration.
Right On is a kind offering for fans and new listeners alike: songs that embrace the possibility that we’re sometimes right, often wrong, but music meets us where we are and keeps us company.
