Plain Mister Smith makes indie-pop feel wonderfully unpredictable on sophomore album ‘Bric-a-Brac Attack’

Plain Mister Smith has always had a knack for making left-field ideas feel inviting, but ‘Bric-a-Brac Attack’ might be his most immediately enjoyable collection yet.

Across nine tracks, the Vancouver-and-London-based singer-songwriter folds together psych-infused indie-pop, folk-rock warmth, orchestral instinct and a wonderfully offbeat lyrical sensibility to create an album that feels both meticulously crafted and charmingly loose around the edges.

Opener ‘Grindavik’ is an especially strong introduction. Bright acoustic guitars shimmer across the track while Plain Mister Smith turns the Icelandic town’s volcanic activity into a metaphor for a relationship under strain. It’s an unusual image, but that is precisely why it works.

Guest voices Jordan Klassen and Kitt add extra depth to the arrangement, helping the track grow into something warm and expansive without losing its intimacy.

While ‘Miss Sunshine’, ‘We Were Called the Fox’, ‘Andy Warhol’ and ‘Lucian & Francis’ suggest an artist happy to follow unusual threads wherever they lead, while collaborators including Findlay Brown, Leeroy Stagger, Krystle Dos Santos and Tyson Motsenbocker bring additional colour to an already varied record.

‘Dream to be Free’ finds him leaning into a more yearning melodic space, while ‘Fragmentary World’ feels perfectly suited to an album built from scattered images and emotional snapshots. Even the title ‘Bric-a-Brac Attack’ captures the spirit of the project brilliantly: a jumble of curiosities, memories and ideas that somehow become more satisfying when placed together.

Rather than chasing one mood or aesthetic, ‘Bric-a-Brac Attack’ keeps shifting its perspective, finding space for humour, tenderness, artful references and the kind of melodic hooks that leave a lasting impression.

It’s bright without being superficial, thoughtful without becoming heavy, and eccentric without ever losing sight of the song.

With his latest LP, Plain Mister Smith has created an album full of character and genuine charm. It’s the kind of indie-pop record that rewards curiosity and gets even better the deeper you dig.