Alex Berkley – 28 Days of Fun 4: 30 Second Songs
This week’s Album of the Week spotlight shines on a delightful, recently re-released gem from Buffalo’s own Alex Berkley: 28 Days of Fun 4: 30 Second Songs. Berkley, a respected figure in the local songwriting scene, is known for his stripped-down folksy bedroom pop, and this album perfectly encapsulates that aesthetic. 28 Days of Fun 4 is the fourth installment in Berkley’s “Fun-a-Day” series, a project where he commits to writing and recording a song every day in February. This particular iteration, originally a somewhat hushed release on SoundCloud back in 2017, found it’s way to Bandcamp this past February to join Berkley’s first three Fun-a-Day installments. A self-imposed challenge of keeping each track around 30 seconds long finds Berkley embracing the fleeting on this go-around, a move that distills the songwriting to a playful, honest core.
The Fun-a-Day project itself has roots in the Buffalo arts community, originating as an annual challenge hosted by the dearly-departed art collective Sugar City. The premise was simple: create something, anything, every day in February. Berkley adopted this framework and made it his own, using it as a springboard for each of his four installments.
The album’s sound is, unsurprisingly, lo-fi, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a collection of acoustic-driven miniatures, ranging from silly stream-of-consciousness ramblings to surprisingly poignant instrumental pieces. There’s a genuine, unpretentious quality to the music. You’ll hear touches of layered vocal harmonies (“Life is Good”), homespun recording effects (“Boulder Rain” and “Zzz…”), and even sprinklings of mandolin (“Hobo Mind”) and synth (“I Will Create Monsters”). It’s an eclectic mix, reflecting the unpredictable nature of daily inspiration. Berkley’s raw, conceptional approach should resonate with fans of artists like The Mountain Goats, Daniel Johnston, and Lomelda.
Some of the most compelling tracks are also the simplest. Songs like “Penultimate,” “The Only Type of Time Travel That We Can Really Do,” and “Last Question” showcase Berkley’s knack for concise, impactful songwriting; these are tunes that could easily hold their own on a more “polished” release (though that may defeat the point here). Then there are tracks like “Contra-Mantra,” where he dips his toes into different stylistic waters, and charming instrumentals like “Must Pick Up Mystery FedEx Wine Tonight” that exemplify his usual, upbeat acoustic style. The entire set is full of these twists and turns, and helps illustrate the idea that good songwriting doesn’t require excessive tinkering.
Ultimately, 28 Days of Fun 4: 30 Second Songs finds joy in the organic. While the lo-fi aesthetic and short song lengths might initially seem like novelty, they only serve to highlight the strength of Alex Berkley’s songwriting. The album revels in the charm of it’s flaws, keeps the process honest, and gives way to some truly inspired moments. Listen here on Bandcamp.
Categorised in: Album of the Week
This post was written by Ronald Walczyk