Camp Robber - Birdsong

Camp Robber

Birdsong
self-released; 2022

3.8 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Reid Bouvier (vocals/guitar), Carlin Ritchie (guitar), Jordan Lang (bass/vocals) and Raymond Trudeau (drums) are Camp Robber. The band didn’t form very long ago and recently released Birdsong which is a three-song EP.

The band is somewhere between alternative rock and pop punk. I felt the lyrics veered towards pop punk which often deals with similar subjects but not always. What are those subjects? It mostly comes of age with heavy nostalgia, the future and also staying up all night. The songs contain that cathartic type of energy that is almost always associated with youth.

“Birdsong” is the first song and it starts with 4/4 time, catchy vocal melodies and crunchy guitar chords. The song's tale seems to revolve about an adventure with a companion. It’s a little over two minutes long but they manage to cram in a full song. The hook was infectious and they ended the song with a climax.

You can make an easy case for “Barbara’s Ashes” being the highlight. It felt like a single. The hook is really strong and the dynamics pop. I thought the drumming which was reminiscent of the song “Everlong” by Foo Fighters added a lot. The vocals are well delivered and intense. In addition to that I loved the line “it’s better to burn out than fade away” which reminded me of Kurt Cobain.

“Stress Cadets'' starts with an unbridled energy that’s undeniable. The beat is on point and the guitars flourish with different styles which affect the dynamics. This song had the most infectious vocal melodies to my ears. He sings “Cause we were Space Cadets in summer camp.” The song builds with an intensity and layers with more and more energy. Great stuff and definitely felt like a closer.

The songs go by fast even if the whole EP was only about ten minutes. I thought the songwriting was good. The songs didn’t have any extra fat and they get to the good stuff with powerful sections that keep your attention. One aspect that helped was the recordings. The songs sounded professional and refined but also raw in the sense that this feels like a band playing in a room together.

​The band hasn’t been around long but this is an indicator they have talent as well as potential. This release is an easy win for fans of alternative and punk music. Take a listen.

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