Music Review: Will Butler, Policy

By Tyler Hodg

One year after the release of Arcade Fire’s Grammy-nominated, Juno award-winning album Reflektor, bassist Will Butler momentarily slips away from the band to release his debut solo album titled Policy. Venturing out on your own musically is sure to be a difficult—and possibly terrifying—task, but Will Butler was able to successfully pull it off. Saying that Policy is better than most of Arcade Fire’s music would be false, but it holds its own when compared to the critical darlings.

Is it fair to compare the music on Policy to that of Arcade Fire? Not really. Is it an unavoidable reality? Definitely. The grandness of Arcade Fire’s music is missing from Will Butler’s solo effort, but it’s not necessarily missed. Where the music of his previous band is more experimental, Butler’s music is much more grounded. The songs feature fewer creative vocal harmonies, instruments, and layers, which, at times, makes them sound more raw and real. Will Butler has written songs that sound like and incorporate certain elements of Arcade Fire, but takes them all into different, imaginative directions.

Policy’s greatest strength is its eclectic array of songs. Each track is as enjoyably different than the last. While all the songs are impressive, three in particular are sure standouts: “Anna” is a captivating throwback to the synth sounds of the ‘80s, “What I Want” exemplifies Will Butler’s love for new wave punk, while the haunting background vocals in the ballad “Finish What I Started” could be the deciding factor in making the song a favorite track of many.

Aside from two slower songs, Policy is generally upbeat sounding. The closing track, “Witness,” sounds like the best song from the 1950s that was never made. It incorporates the era’s signature staccato piano with choir-like background vocals, creating an inventive track that will force you get up and dance, whether you like it or not.

Policy is the perfect explanation of why Arcade Fire is a special band: the musicians are incredible outside of the group just as much as they are inside it. Will Butler is clearly more than qualified to have a lengthy and successful solo career, and this record is the cold hard proof. The album will probably fly under most people’s radars, but for those that get to hear the album, Policy may become their favorite record of 2015 so far.

Policy was released by Merge Records on March 10.

Tour Dates:
3/12 Pittsburgh, PA // Brillobox //
3/13 Philadelphia, PA // Boot & Saddle //
3/14 Washington, DC // Rock & Roll Hotel //
3/15 Durham, NC // The Pinhook //
3/16 Atlanta, GA // The Earl //
3/18 – 3/21 Austin, TX // SXSW
3/24 Bloomington, IN // The Bishop //
3/26 Grand Rapids, MI // Calvin College //
3/27 Toronto, ON // Horseshoe Tavern //
3/28 Montreal, QC // Bar Le Ritz PDB //
3/29 Montreal, QC // Bar Le Ritz PDB //
4/11 Rotterdam, Nederland // Motel Mozaique //
4/13 Amsterdam, Nederland // Melkwek Old Hall //
4/14 Brussels, Belgium // AB Club //
4/15 Cologne, Germany // Luxor //
4/16 Berlin, Germany // Frannz Club //
4/18 Paris, France // Maroquinerie //
4/20 Glasgow, UK // Art School //
4/21 Manchester, UK // Deaf Institute //
4/22 London, UK // Scala //
4/23 Birmingham, UK // Institute – The Temple //
4/25 Dublin, Ireland // Whelans //
5/21 Vancouver, BC // The Imperial Theatre (w/ Perfume Genius) //
5/21-23 Sasquatch Festival // The Gorge, WA //
5/24 Portland, OR // Doug Fir Lounge //
5/26 San Francisco, CA // Great American Music Hall //
5/27 Los Angeles, CA // Troubadour //
5/29 San Diego, CA // Casbah //
5/30 Phoenix, AZ // The Crescent Ballroom //
6/1 Denver, CO // The Bluebird Theater //
6/2 Omaha, NE // The Waiting Room //
6/3 Minneapolis, MN // Cedar Cultural Centre //
6/4 Chicago, IL // Lincoln Hall //