Male Models was recorded live over several days with Birnbaum and longtime collaborators Nick Jost and Sean Mullins. Despite his status as the frontman and principal songwriter of Wilder Maker, Birnbaum’s voice can only be heard singing lead on 5 of the 12 songs. The remaining tracks have guest vocalists taking the mic, unveiling an impressive lineup that includes Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Felicia Douglass of Dirty Projectors, Katie Von Schleicher, and Jordan Lee (a.k.a Mutual Benefit).
Like guests at a strange afterparty, when you hear these accomplished vocalists recount Birnbaum’s tales of unrequited love, drunkenness, and desperation, it feels almost voyeuristic, as if you were sitting in a crowded cocktail bar, sneaking glances at nearby tables. “We all listen to playlists a lot, even us album diehards,” Birnbaum admits. “I’ve been keeping an ever-expanding playlist of songs that I never want to skip, with all of these different voices back to back. I wanted to make a record that sounded like a playlist in this way; it became a kind of songwriting challenge for me.”
Male Models succeeds in capturing the energy of a crowded party and its accompanying playlist without losing the philosophical underpinnings of its concept. Musically, it also changes shape constantly. Across the 12 songs of the album, listeners will hear electrified soul, heartfelt folk songs, indie rock, and searing barn burners, all of which are expertly tethered by Birnbaum’s sardonic and doom-laden storytelling. Perhaps destined to be the most talked-about track on the album, ‘O Anna’ features Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz on the mic. Duritz instantly makes the song feel nostalgic and warm, while Birnbaum’s lyrics explore male isolation and social constructs through the metaphor of Michael Jordan’s athleticism.
Tracklisting:- Letter Of Apology
- A Professional feat. Felicia Douglass
- New Anxiety feat. Mutual Benefit
- Static feat. V.V. Lightbody
- Surfers Trace feat. Yellow Ostrich
- All Power Must Remain Hidden
- Scam Likely
- Silver Car feat. Katie Von Schleicher
- 5 Train
- O Anna feat. Adam Duritz
- Against The Numbers
- Jason
