Review: Bern & the Brights- Starchild 7'' Bern & the Brights- Starchild 7'' Montclair, NJ Indie / Rock / Chamber-Pop Released: April 16, 2011 Self Released There is something breathtaking about the music of Bern & the Brights. With their new vinyl release single "Starchild," Bern & the Brights has solidified their place in my heart as one of the best bands around today. The songwriting, groove, and lyrics on this song are top notch. It's a mesmerizing song about the one you love. I don't know exactly who they are referring to, but that doesn't matter. What matters is what it means to me, to you, to us, together. The release of this single was well-thought out by the band. They chose to release the single in time for Record Store Day, which was on April 16, to celebrate their love of vinyl and to showcase one of their best songs that they have been playing live for quite some time. They chose to do the artwork themselves. They chose to finance the release themselves. No kickstarter campaign, no label support. They used their own cash, impeccable talent, and music community to release it. They worked at Home Front Studios with Matt Ryan of The Defending Champions, who contributed a fitting trombone on the single. I respect that Bern & the Brights in true D.I.Y. aesthetic worked on the artwork and design of the record by themselves and financed it themselves, too. What's cool about "Starchild" is not that it's my old DJ name, but that you can take the song lyrics together or just break it down and have it mean whatever you want. There's an obvious theme of love throughout the song. You're beautiful; I don't know if I ever told you. Sweetheart, I think about you all the time. I wish each person in this stupid world was like you, cuz if we were we would know perfect harmony, adrift, androgynous. The lyrics and music are both lovely and cute. It's a song that truly shines. It's a song that you want to play to the one that you love. If anyone ever sang something like this to me, it would melt my heart in the best way possible. I love you more than A fish loves the water and I love you more than the heat love the summer and I love you more than the shore loves the sand and I love you so much, I'll say it again I love you more than... the song loves the band. The B-side is "Lost in the Sea," a song that showcases the lighter, folk side of Bern & the Brights with a charming, dangly guitar. The song is perfect for Spring--it's relaxing and lovely. What isn't lovely about Bern & the Brights? You can pick up the the 7'' at Tunes in Hoboken or at a show.