I'm Separate Album Review

By Lark Allen

The San Diego experimental rock duo, Bandaid Brigade, released their first full-length album I’m Separate on January 21st, gifting listeners with a beautifully unique sound. It’s as if you mixed early 2000s power pop with some pop punk, a dash of piano and…a hint of 80s muzak—yes, muzak. Combine these sounds and you still only have part of the genre that I’m Separate is. 

Members Brian Wahlstrom and Zach Quinn aren’t new to the music scene. Each of them has been in bands before, and their musical experience is reflected in the complex sound that Bandaid Brigade brings us. The songs on this album could almost work as an entire broadway play—that’s the level of energy that this project has. 

The group’s ability to combine elements from such different genres is impressive to say the least. Their inclusion of piano fits right into the album, without overpowering the songs—it’s more a flavoring, and a tasty flavoring at that. I’m Separate also has it’s fair share of synth inclusion too, completing its eclectic sound.

The album starts off with “Everything,” a peppy bop that gives listeners a taste of what’s to come. A fast tempo and swirling melodies sets the perfect pace for the rest of the songs, complete with a short and sweet guitar solo. 

“Travel Light” follows, starting off with that muzak-y twang, steeped in nostalgic sound. Bandaid Brigade has a knack for making complex songs that can have multiple tempos and vignettes without coming off as sloppy. Listeners are given a humorous insight into the recording process of the song in it’s last few seconds—two men (presumably Whalstrom and Quinn) banter about how to end off the track. 

The middle part of the album is graced by “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” jolting listeners with a track that has no guitar, drums or bass—just keys and experimental noises. It shows the band’s ability to drastically change their sound, and they do it well.

“Break the Grid” comes in during the last half of the album, and is one of it’s fastest tracks. Slightly out of control vocals make it an irresistibly catchy beat that’s impossible not to at least tap your foot to. 

The band closes out the album with the raucous, gritty and lighthearted “Nothing.” It’s the one song that’s completely separate in sound from the rest of the songs on the album, making it an unexpected, but still uniquely Bandaid Brigade addition. 

There’s something about this album that just hits home. A listen through the whole thing and it’s easy to fall into the melodies, vocal harmonies and lyrics that I’m Separate offers. The album’s experience from start to finish flows like a story, from the fast songs to the slower ones. 

While the album is mostly upbeat in nature, Bandaid Brigade manages to also make its songs a little melancholy without depressing the listener. It’s this emotional nuance that really ties up the pretty package of I’m Separate.