Hello reader,
Welcome back.
Today, we’re going to delve into Windser. Jordan Topf is the California native (Santa Cruz) artist behind the moniker for his solo work. In the 2010s, he was a member of the NYC-based band Mainland, building a sizable fanbase as they toured locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2022, Topf released his solo debut EP, Where the Redwoods Meet the Sea. Less than three years later, his much-anticipated self-titled album Windser will be out via the fabulous Bright Antenna Records on Friday, May 16th, for your listening pleasure.
Per Windser’s press release, “The album was co-produced by Topf alongside Matias Tellez (Girl in Red, Sondre Lerche) and Jon Gilbert (Mt. Joy, flipturn) at John Congleton’s Animal Rites studio and features a powerhouse lineup of musicians including Dan Bailey (Father John Misty) and Adam Christgau (Tegan & Sara, Troye Sivan, Sia) on drums, Daniel Rhine (Phoebe Bridgers) on bass, Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers) on guitar, and Jerry Borge (Ziggy Marley, Jackson Browne, Dave Stewart) on keys.”
Also via the album’s press release, Topf noted, “These are stories I’ve never told, shared in a way I’ve never shared, played in a way I’ve never played. The songs deserved a certain level of care, so instead of working in my home studio, we rented John Congleton’s Los Angeles studio, Animal Rites, and invited all my favorite musicians to record.”
To explore further into one of the stories, the album’s press release notes, “When Jordan Topf was just seven years old, his father abandoned him in a hotel room in Costa Rica. With the bleary shock of a Polaroid flashbulb, Topf pulls the memory into clarity: his dad joining a woman he’d just met on a motorcycle ride, and leaving him behind, alone, for 24 hours. ‘I remember the sound of the engine roaring and dust flying, sitting at the hotel pool, half submerged as my heart sank. I crawled into a creaky bed in the darkness, alone, more alone than I’d ever felt. Thousands of miles away from home, in a country where I didn’t speak the language. I had to set myself free from the pain. I allowed myself to feel openly and truthfully, to write something that could help me understand my father and how I’d suppressed these feelings for so long.'”
And now for some hype for your ears and eyes from the Windser YouTube channel:
The song inspired by the traumatic story above, “Abandon”:
(All credits and rights to Windser)
The bridge, grass, and rocky pathway setting for the video for the song, “These Days”:
(All credits and rights to Windser)
I love the old film stage performance look within the video for the song, “Shut Up and Kiss Me”:
(All credits and rights to Windser)
The melody of the opening song “Abandon” is one hell of a way to start an album. It’s triumphant and strong, with lyrics that contrast, telling of abandonment and love. Often, the themes are about relationships, whether platonic or romantic. The balance of vocals and melody comes across as cathartic while you listen. Kudos. The next song, “Lose You,” has Topf in a more exuberant vocal delivery, hanging on the notes in the best ways. Topf varies his deliveries based on the lyrics, but they all match the melody and mood quite well. Some will find many songs deserving of being “songs of the summer” candidates on this album. The songs that stand out truly stand head and shoulders above the rest and some become anthemic. Those excellent songs will play great live, and you will see yourself singing the choruses while attending the live shows. Listen for yourself and see which ones you like the best.
Overall, the album flows extremely well from one song to the next. Topf has created his best work so far, building upon the EP with this full-length debut. The album’s closer, “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” is an excellent way to end as the vibes end perfectly, wrapping this album up. In due time, I’m looking forward to what’s next from Windser. No pressure.
Windser gets 4 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. I know I’ve gotten feedback on this so a heads up that I only publish reviews that are at least 4 Scum Drops, so if you see your favorite band/artist listed or a brand new artist to you, know the album is really good and you’ll dig that particular release. Windser is an above-average album overall and a great debut. There’s a lot to like about this one. I think it’s infectious from the early notes, but it will also grow on some listeners as time goes on. I recommend adding it to your collection in the format of your choosing.
Windser Track listing (song length)
- Abandon (3:34)
- Lose You (2:31)
- Backyard (2:39)
- Head In The Clouds (3:22)
- Drown (3:31)
- Skeletons (3:13)
- Hello From The First Time (2:44)
- These Days (2:57)
- In The Flowers (3:42)
- Last Regret (3:31)
- Shut Up and Kiss Me (3:06)
Total runtime: 34:50
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process with Windser will take just over half an hour from start to finish, and just over one hour of your time if you listen back-to-back. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, I found the songs highlighted in green font above to be my favorite songs on this album.
For more info on the tour, some awesome merch, and his own artwork, check out Windser’s site. You’ll see the socials on the site, including but not limited to Instagram, Facebook,
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
