Simon ‘Berkfinger’ Berckelman, one-third of the previously defunct Philadelphia Grand Jury (the Philly Jays), goes it alone with his first full-length solo release under the moniker of Feelings.
Be Kind, Unwind is a rather silly affair, with a cheeky and increasingly ridiculous selection of songs that at times lack the hooks and enthusiasm that the Philly Jays had in spades.
The opening howl of “awwww feeeelings” on ‘Square’ signals what’s to come, an upbeat and infectious track with simplistic lyrics to match. It’s frenetic, energetic, and fun, and is one of the better moments on the record.
‘City Hall’ displays a more restrained side while still being bright and catchy, but there’s no real substance, and this could serve to sum up the album as a whole. It’s harmless, playful, and for a lot of the time, fun, but there’s not much more.
Following the announcement of the Philly Jays’ hiatus, which has recently ended, Berkfinger returned to his birthplace of Berlin, moved into a studio, and began work on Be Kind, Unwind under the name Feelings, which he has used for solo material previously.
‘One In A Million’ sees Berkfinger embrace a soaring falsetto that is backed by fuzzy guitars and driving drumming. Things get a bit more ridiculous on ‘Good Juju In My Medicine’, with heavily distorted vocals repeating the song’s title.
It only gets sillier with ‘Intercourse’, a childish romp. As with all of the tracks on Be Kind, Unwind, it’s a bit of playful fun, but it’s largely forgettable.
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‘New York Summer’, drawn as the first single, and ‘Must Get Better’, a more carefully crafted effort, are the standouts, and most closely hark back to the work of the Philly Jays.
On Be Kind, Unwind, Feelings is unashamedly silly, but the album lacks any real substance or compelling reason for repeated listens and will most likely leave you pining for the imminent return of the Philly Jays.
