ribbon’s debut album is full of wise words and warmth.
If you’re on the hunt for an Indie band whose music feels like a warm hug and good advice from a friend, look no further than ribbon. Based in Brighton, Massachusetts, ribbon released their first album, I Watched The Ribbon, in April of 2024. ribbon is an alternative folk band with a very melancholic and almost devotional sound to them. The band is an ethereal ensemble of River Pfaff, Bradley Robertson, and Will McGovern. Pfaff and McGovern share vocals to create beautifully balanced and harmonious songs, and their voices web together like shoelaces, creating a certain unity in their music.
“Cut Flowers” is a standout from the album, both for its message and the incredible sound it has. It begins with soft guitar strumming, and it remains gentle throughout the track. The vocals begin sturdy and certain and then enter into an angelic harmony between Pfaff and McGovern. The chorus, “I don’t want to live like I’m already dead”, is a hard-hitting reminder to many listeners. This track says a lot about being present in one’s life because so often people are rushing through it. Through the harmonies and the heavenly strings from Robertson, the listener is reminded to slow down and appreciate every little thing.
At the top of ribbon’s most listened-to tracks is “Climb Your Tree.” This track is more fast-paced than “Cut Flowers,” and the guitar chords are much crisper. When listening to this song, it feels like a kind friend is empathizing with you on a bad day. It seems to be getting down to the core of self-depreciation and criticizing oneself. The lyrics tell the listener no one is stupid, they are just looking for an answer. “Climb Your Tree” feels like a crucial part of the message of I Watched The Ribbon, because as ribbon writes on their Bandcamp, “It’s about us, it’s about you.” ribbon is a band that insists everyone is interconnected and inherently valuable; you don’t have to do anything to earn your worth. They know this because it’s how they feel themselves, and by putting it into lyrics it speaks to an experience so many people can relate to.
ribbon is certainly making a name for themselves in Boston’s music scene. Their unique and angelic sound combined with their profound lyrics truly pulls the listener in and keeps them entranced. I Watched The Ribbon might make you cry, it might make you feel things you didn’t know you could feel, and it certainly will make you impatiently anticipate the next release from this Brighton band.