Who knew a record about agonizing heartbreak could be so groovy? On his debut album Love Is Not What You Need, Chicago singer-songwriter Sad Brad Smith shows that not all sad songs need equally depressing music to accompany them.

I like to imagine that there was a time when Sad Brad Smith was only regular Brad Smith. This “regular” period would account for the quirky, upbeat pop melodies and cheery synths that appear on Love is Not What You Need.

Smith, a Highland Park native, moved to Chicago to study theater at DePaul University. Theater and the stage often appear in his lyrics whether recounting that his ex moved on to another guitar playing actor (“Baby, I’m So Sad”) or admitting to being the heartbreaker during a school play (“Home Sweet Home”).

Love is Not What You Need is a slow starter but eventually the album grows as the compositions go from simple acoustic numbers into fuller multi-instrument tracks with ukulele plucks and synths.

“Bad Mood” starts the latter half of Smith’s album beginning with a quirky synth intro and Smith creaking out the lyrics, “You always put me in a bad mood.” The song moves into a funky, more positive territory with Smith asserting, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Lest we think Smith has always been down in the dumps, the singer-songwriter stumbled upon success when “Juno” director Jason Reitman selected Smith’s song “Help Yourself” for his George Clooney vehicle “Up in the Air.”

Album standout “Shooting Star” could have easily been a part of Elliott Smith’s repertoire with its light-as-air pop harmonies. The only gripe I had was that it was not long enough. Just when Sad Brad Smith gets the listener to the point of singalong, the song fizzles out. Luckily album closer “Training For Love” leaves us with a bit of yearning hopefulness.

Love may not be what you need, according to Sad Brad Smith, but its loss is certainly what you need to make great art.

Buy Love Is Not What You Need on Sad Brad Smith’s Bandcamp page.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________