Birdy – Birdy

Review

Yo, let me tell you about Birdy's first album, "Birdy". This girl dropped it back in 2011 when she was just a teenager, and damn if it didn't hit me right in the chest. Her voice is like... you know when you're up late, feeling all kinds of things, and the world's quiet? That's what she sounds like. Raw and real, but with this strength underneath that sneaks up on you.

She's got this way of taking other people's songs and making them feel brand new. Like, she covered Bon Iver and Phoenix, and I swear, it's like hearing those tracks for the first time all over again. But don't sleep on her original stuff either. "Without a Word" is on there, and it's a sign that this girl's got more up her sleeve than just singing other people's tunes.

The whole album's stripped back, just Birdy, her piano, and that voice. It's simple, but it works. Some folks weren't feeling it, said it was too safe or whatever. But for me? It's like a warm blanket on a cold night. Comforting, you know? It's the kind of album that's been there for me during some rough patches, and I think that's what music's all about. - Ivy