3.5/5
Birthday Boy
Different things are happening with 'Stranger Things' star Finn Wolfhard. It's a new day for the 'Ghostbusters' franchise face in this chapter two. In the same week that Eleven's Mike appeared on Netflix's Tudum promoting the fifth and final season of 'Stranger Things' coming this fall, rocking a buzz cut, the former floppy haired kid follows in the footsteps of Scoops Ahoy co-stars Maya Hawke and Joe Kerry in releasing a solo album. 'Happy Birthday' comes after his work with The Aubreys ('Karaoke Alone' and the EP, 'Soda & Pie') and features the singles 'Crown', 'Trailers After Dark' (with a beautifully created video), 'Choose The Latter' (with two videos to choose from, pre- and post-cut) and the outstanding 'Objection!' for his grandpa. "The snow is starting to fall, circling Waterloo/The coat that's soaked from the bar/The cursed witches' brew/The happiness of it all, set back by you", Finn sings for his geologist grandfather.
A lovely lyricist, who makes art with his studio canvas, like the amazing album cover, Finn Wolfhard's raw and ready 'Birthday' confirms him as a compelling indie darling with daring. Especially on 'Everytown There's A Darling', or the opening title-track as you blow the candles out. Think of him like a young Pete Yorn, who had a 'Break-Up' with a Black Widow, before appearing as an actor himself in Scorsese's 'Killers Of The Flower Moon'. But 'Wait', there's more on this nine-track when Wolfhard growls, "I can't sing anymore/How many more?/How many days?/Sinkin', speakin'/How many more I have to wait?/Just watch me fall into the deep/And the great beyond wraps around my feet/Ooo-ooo-oo-oo, oo-ooo-oo-oo/Ooo-ooo-oo-oo, oo-ooo-oo-oo/Ooo-ooo-oo-oo, oo-ooo-oo-oo", in closing. Lost in the woods with Bon Iver sensibilities and vivid vulnerability. In a crowded New Music Friday, from the 'Wicked' good Cynthia Erivo, to Lil' Wayne getting another 'Carter', this is one of the best. Let alone better than 90% of movie stars that turn into music ones. And that's no insult. From 'Jurassic World' star Scarlett Johansson, to 'Frankenstein's' Oscar Isaac, they all hold their own.
On 'Eat', he really knows how to as he reels us in with some beautiful bait, like, "You got me hooked, I'm a fish on a line/Steady hands, I know I roll in with the tide/You know, I know, I've waited all day/You know, I know, I've waited all day/My body's eating itself all day/My body's eating itself all day/Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh." The fan of the harmonies knows how to all make it flow together like, 3, 6, 9, as one, two, three, he gives us the eighth wonder of 'You' (and more "oohs", and we love it) and a perfectly penned dear devotion in a young songwriter that knows how to do more than just deliver a script written by somebody else. "Can't breathe when you talk to me/Loneliness says all the things that you mean/I'm not lost on you but you're staring at me/Comin' out to say the words and roll down my stream," is all his own, and it means much more as he crosses the streams to his own studio space. Sounding like a fresh breath, as he turns his career upside down before his directorial debut, Happy Birthday to you, Finn Wolfhard. Forget a mic drop, it's time to pick this up. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Crown', 'Objection!', 'Everytown There's A Darling'.
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