EP Review: Songs To Depress Your Dog

Originally from Middlesbrough UK now based in Wellington, David Kirby is a singer/songwriter focusing on the unusual musical combination of folk/folk-punk acoustic songs. Songs to Depress Your Dog is Kirby’s second EP, following on from his 2020 debut EP Can’t Move For Doom.

The amalgamation of folk/folk punk acoustic is an original concept to me, but highly appealing. I ended up down a rabbit hole which I was more than happy to fall down.

The first track on this album, Airport gives you a good indication that David’s writing style is lyrical poetry in an unfiltered and honest way. The combination of his broad accent, a few choice words and exceptional lyrics hooked me immediately.

I sat there on the couch and did not move from the first chord on this EP to the last. Then I turned to Spotify to hunt down as much David Kirby as I could, inhaling that as well. My partner mentioned he sounds like folk punk singer songwriter Frank Turner. Once I learned who he was, I agreed wholeheartedly.

Songs To Depress Your Dog is predominantly acoustic, however lead single The Shipping Forecast is an intensely good lively number that combines “a rock arrangement with traditional folk instrumentation” That would be no mean feat to accomplish, yet he succeeded in combining the two genres in an apparent effortless marriage of the two genres. This is one of two standouts for me in what is a superb EP.

Each track on this album has an engaging narrative, stories of love and life without being doused in saccharine, his ironic personality and unpretentious humour shine through.

The absolute standout track for me on Songs To Depress Your Dog is The Ghost Beside The Fire, this track literally gave me goosebumps with intense gripping storytelling, uncomplicated instrumentation and authentic melodic vocals. The result was a stunning Celtic sounding song that I now have on high rotation.

Songs To Depress Your Dog has been an education and a joy to listen to. I am off to investigate what else is down that folk-punk rabbit hole.