Catchy hooks, clever lyrics and creative ingenuity — Will Butler’s debut solo album, “Policy,” encompasses all of these traits.
Butler is most notably known for his membership in Canadian indie rock band, Arcade Fire, alongside his older brother, Win Butler. Both are working on solo projects in addition to their band, including Win Butler’s DJ Windows 98 project.
Even though Butler can occasionally take the backseat to Arcade Fire’s husband and wife duo, his talents shouldn’t be underestimated in the slightest. This may the first solo album the industry sees from Butler, but he certainly came to impress.
The eight-track album opens with “Take My Side,” which is an upbeat tune sure to have listeners’ toes tapping right along with it. Of all the songs, this was an excellent one to start with because it’ll have everyone eager to delve into the album’s entirety.
The second song, “Anna,” is different, but equally as strong. Whereas the first song had a rock vibe, Butler experiments with a classic techno formula here and throws a little piano and saxophone into the mix, as well. Any unconventional choice made by Butler proves to be just what each song needs.
Listening to each track for the first time, fans of Butler will experience a new musical sensation with every song. The lyrics are quirky, but absolutely brilliant. For example, “What I Want” is loaded with with fun phrases, including “If you come and take my hand, I will buy you a pony. We can cook it for supper. I know a great recipe for pony macaroni.”
Butler’s album has a decent amount of fast-paced songs, but his ballads are also worth a listen. “Finish What I Started” and “Sing to Me” are the only slower tracks, and they are a nice break from the rest of Butler’s energetic endeavors.
Seeing as “Policy” is a relatively short album, the best advice would be to listen to it on repeat over and over again because it’s just that good. Butler clearly had a great time working on each track, and the result is an eclectic mix of styles sure to keep listeners entertained.
If there was a question in anyone’s mind about Butler’s talent, he’s managed to prove himself in under 30 minutes, and he deserves all the praise for his efforts. Butler may have been living in his brother’s shadow, but if he’s capable of producing material like this on his first solo project, his future is bright.