Album Review: Adjust The Sails – The Worst of Adjust The Sails

Dropping on Friday 5^th June, ‘The Worst of Adjust The Sails’ is the first full-length effort from the (mainly) solo songwriter Shane Hurst, who describes himself as “just a sad dude making rad tunes.” Adjust The Sails has been around since 2014, but after a short hiatus returned and entered public consciousness with 2018’s ‘I’m Not Okay, But it’s Okay’ EP. Speaking recently on the Remain Indoors Podcast, Hurst explained that he began to feel like his songs were “overly poetic and sad,” and to overcome writer’s block he realised the “need to make it simpler,” which led him to a creative conclusion: “I can still make sad music, but I can make it poppier.” On this release, Hurst (writing, playing and recording everything on the album) has fleshed out his sound, reworking some old tracks and aiming to make it more than just ‘guitar and drums’.

The album’s introduction sets a low-key, intimate mood. It feels close and cozy. Part spoken-word and part impassioned insight, the looping refrain begs a sing-along: “I’m insane, so I’ll just smile and pretend that I’m okay.” The nihilistic jangle of ‘Look Ma! I’m Edgy’ is next. Ironic hate and frustration stretch Hurst’s voice until he’s almost breathless. It abruptly reinvents itself as a true outcast anthem within the warm harmonies of the choral “I don’t fit in..” . The ‘sad, but poppy’ mission statement shines through on the next couple of songs – ‘Meet Kyle’ could be a typical breakup song, but the clever cadence of the lyrics carry the personal, exposed sentiments in a joyous manner, and ‘A Lifetime of Bad Habits’ juxtaposes pop-punk sensibilities with a discouraging, yet somehow rousing chorus fit for Generation Angst to join in on:  “I’m not afraid of dying, just dying alone..”

There’s a touching ‘intermission’ of answerphone messages sent in by fans, backed by a simple picked guitar line – It illustrates the affable bond between band and audience; where Adjust The Sails is ‘one of us’. Previous single ‘Mike Walton’ invites us into the close-knit circle further – Hurst taking the opportunity to simultaneously honour and make fun of his ‘tour roadie’. Despite advice against releasing anything during the current Corona crisis, the single landed places on both Spotify’s ‘New Punk Tracks’ and ‘Punk Unleashed’ playlists. The closing duo of ‘Wack’ and (appropriately) ‘Goodbye’ explore more of the folky, disenchanted narrative – “It’s starting to take its toll..” howls Hurst almost as a sign off, an ending.  Yet ‘Adjust The Sails’ as a metaphor itself represents new beginnings;  changing your situation, and signifies an essential aspect of Hurst’s music, as he explains: “this album represents a period of growth, not just in the presentation and production of the music, but in the meaning behind the songs themselves.”

Like candid acousti-punk with a stripped-back, heart-on-sleeve delivery? ‘The Worst of Adjust the Sails’ will be available to stream on Spotify (pre-save HERE), or download from Bandcamp. Adjust The Sails have pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.