Jade Bird—Who Wants to Talk About Love

When I came across the album, I read the little blurb about Jade being a British singer-songwriter and that the album was inspired by a recent breakup. That didn’t quite prepare me for the opening track, "Stick Around". Jade’s vocals immediately suggested Nashville and country influences rather than the North East of England, Wales, or even Croydon. This is someone who has clearly immersed herself in Americana, country, and folk, and has been truly inspired by those sounds. A cracking way to open the album.

"Nobody" has a more contemporary, pop feel. There's still those same hurt feelings, and the vocals rise and hint at anger in places, but are kept restrained. It's a strange thing, knowing there's true pain behind something, and enjoying the resulting songs, but I suppose it's a two way street, being comforted by the cathartic process of working your way through the pain and sorrow.

A slight change of pace with "Who Wants", which for me feels very much Jewel inspired. Laid back and melancholic, with just a hint of brightness, which mainly comes from the vocal performance, which at times soars.

Continuing the softer sound, "Avalanche" is acoustic guitar driven. Musically relatively simple, but providing a great sound bed for Jade's vocals, especially when with the harmonies later in the track, which provide a haunting beauty.

More up-tempo, "Dreams" returns to a pop/rock sound, more Fleetwood Mac than modern-day contemporaries. Knowing the backstory of the album adds context. It may not overtly influence how I feel about the music, but it encourages a deeper connection and a closer look at what Jade is expressing.

"Save Your Tears" leans into a sound that, for some reason, doesn’t quite grab me, I can’t put my finger on why. Musically it feels a bit jarring, and lyrically it doesn’t fully resonate with me. Given the likely cathartic process behind the album, it’s understandable that not every track will appeal to everyone. Even so, the track remains an emotionally honest listen.

The next track is punchier. "Glad You Did" opens with a flowing stream of statements, and if the track didn’t suggest otherwise, it almost feels like a thin layer of vitriol and barbed comments, hidden beneath seemingly open observations. In a way, it mirrors the seven stages of grief, with this one representing the final stage: acceptance.

For me, "How to Be Happy" feels like a look back on happier times, recalling the sparks that once sustained a relationship but are now gone. It also marks a return to the Americana/country sound, with the faintest touch of slide guitar. One lyric stood out for me, simple, yet powerful: "I wish I was the fire you need, until you burned brighter without me". Sad, but maybe the key to break ups, the eventual realisation it's time to move on.

I wasn’t quite sure what "Einstein" was going to be. At first, I imagined it might be about a shared pet, but instead the name is used as a comparison, a way of defining what someone is not. Musically, it follows the same style as the previous track, but it’s the lyrics that stand out as the main takeaway.

I love the lyrics to "Somebody New". The song reads almost like a post-mortem on a relationship. After it’s over, it’s easy to zero in with surgical precision on all the flaws, even though at the time there was only a nagging sense that something wasn’t right. You can almost feel the largest of exhales, the relief.

And the album closes with "Wish You Well", calmer, melodic and probably the most magnanimous of things to say to an ex-partner and probably the perfect sentiment to sign off on.

There have been many albums inspired by breakups. A recent example is Lily Allen’s West End Girl, and Taylor Swift has often been accused of drawing on past relationships for her songwriting, and why not? Some of the best lyrics, and indeed poetry, come from moments of hurt and pain. What sets this album apart, though, is how personal and detailed it feels. I’m not sure how different my review would have been had I taken it at face value, knowing nothing, but I’m glad I didn’t, it gave me more pause for thought and, ultimately, more enjoyment. I hope that doesn’t sound too callous.