Sal's Birdland - Nude Photos Inside (2015)

The Canadian quintet Sal's Birdland combines biting sarcasm with a tongue-in-cheek philosophy on Nude Photos Inside. Even the title gets your attention, and upon further inspection the nude photos are actually baby pictures of the band. This sense of humor is pervasive throughout the 11 tracks. The opening song, "Love Is Groovy," denounces physical abuse through a laundry list of sarcastic lyrics, including, "Love is groovy/Oh so groovy/I feel special when you slap my face." This lyrical trend continues on "I'm Not Like Madonna," an ode to announcing that Sal is everything that pop diva Madonna is not. The majority of songs feature a traditional alternative pop sound that is rarely able to transcend the domination of Sal's vocals. It's refreshing to find a band who is witty enough to convey strong ideas through humor and juxtaposition, rather than presenting them in an all-too familiar sullen and melancholic way.