While we are jumping back and forth between false spring and harsh winter, yearning for warmer weather, and being utterly sick of snow, sometimes music is the key to keep the spirits up. This find from my journey of listening to three albums a day can hopefully keep everyone sane until that warm weather decides to stick around.
This week’s album that I would like to highlight is “Werewolf” by The Brook & The Bluff. The album came out on March 6, 2026 and has 10 tracks, with a run time of 33 minutes. Each song is approximately three minutes in length, with talent laced throughout each piece. The Brook & The Bluff released an extended play (EP) on February 11, 2026 titled “105” as a sneak peek to the album. These songs later appeared on “Werewolf,” along with its other tracks.
The band has a total of four members coming from Birmingham, Ala., who are now located in Nashville, Tenn. They have a self-proclaimed indie rock style with sprinkles of country and folk intertwined. The band started releasing singles in 2016, and they released their first album in 2018. The band has been making hit after hit over the last decade, and their fifth and newest album is no exception to this streak.
Setting the tone for the entire album, the title track “Werewolf” hypnotizes the listener with its upbeat rhythm, putting the band’s indie rock style on full display. This rhythm stays consistent for a majority of the album, making it perfect for a summer day at the lake, with only one or two songs slowing down and embracing the country feel.
Each song has an unapologetic sense of honesty. The album touches on subjects of feeling overworked, remaining oneself despite loss of a relationship, being upfront about personal troubles, and feeling stuck. This authenticity in lyricism brings something special to the album as a whole, as well as the band’s other releases.
While each song covers serious topics, they are mostly overshadowed by the upbeat instrumentals that captivate the listener. A gem of honesty, masking itself in the beauty of smooth sounds, makes the complex layers of this album wonderful to play in the background, be it to drown out the noise of a crowd, or to sit in the privacy of your own space.
After the release of this album, the band will be going on tour across the country. On April 11, they will be performing at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul, Minn. I encourage all of you, at the very least, to give them a listen. If they capture your attention, go support them by seeing them in concert or keeping up to date with their releases on their website: brookandbluff.com. I hope you enjoy this album like I did, and that it keeps the hope of warm weather near. Overall, I rate it four out of five Big Oles.
