Dead Red Sea's debut, Birds, fits in the typical indie rock niche, yet isn't as emo as their frontman's former act, Cross My Heart. Rather, Dead Red Sea showcases a few tricks up their sleeve, including some country guitar licks ("It's So Hard to Be Alive"), Far East-influenced tracks ("Birds"), bouncy, straightforward jams like "Obscene Calls," and much more. Lyrically, lead singer and songwriter Ryan Shelkett still has an occasional depressing offering ("It's So Hard to Be Alive"), but many of the songs seem more obtuse and open. While much of Dead Red Sea is proud and confident in their ability to rock, those who were hoping for an album extreme in its offering will be disappointed. Nevertheless, Birds is still a good beginning point for fans interested in a standard indie rock sound with a bit of flair. ~ Kurt Morris