Album Review: Brother Bird - ‘The Lodge in Miller County’

Caroline Glaser, aka Brother Bird is back with her latest The Lodge in Miller County this Friday via Easy Does It Records! The record represents Glaser’s second LP and third release (she also released an EP titled Gardens). Glaser cites influences including Big Thief, Mazzy Star, and The Cranberries. And frankly all three of those influences show through in her sound and songwriting. I mean this in a good way, as Glaser’s music features dynamic and (at times) booming vocals and introspective lyricism that the aforementioned artists are known for. Glaser has also cited a mentor relationship with members of Manchester Orchestra, whom she supported recently on tour. Additionally, frontman Andy Hull (of Manchester Orchestra) served as a producer on the album. Also, she will serve as support for Hull on his upcoming solo tour!

Glaser’s latest effort not only features earth shattering sections vocally and melodically (as found on the second track of the record “Bride”), it also features more stripped back ethereal sounding tracks such as “Chameleon”. She’s not afraid to venture outside of the indie sound, as she incorporates a drum beat and melody on “Pariah” that sounds more like an electronic pop beat than something you’d find on an indie record. However, some pretty nifty guitar leads that overlay the track swing things back into the indie realm, before she pops off on the hook.

She takes things back again with the acoustically oriented number “Dirt” which features some vocal acrobatics from Glaser as she moves in and out of a pitch perfect falsetto. She brings in some percussion and kicks things up vocally on this one before breaking the door down on the chorus. What’s clear is that Glaser has a knack for writing engaging choruses, as I don’t use the term “hook” lightly.

Additionally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t again note that Glaser might be one of the better vocalists I’ve heard in a minute. That is, she has a wide ranging register and she’s not afraid to utilize it and she does so extremely well. It’s surprising to me that this is her sophomore full-length release as she is making pretty mature choices on the lyrical and instrumental fronts. The Lodge in Miller County is can’t miss stuff and will certainly end up on the sites top release list for 2026 if I have anything to do with it (and I very much do!).

Rating - 9.5/10