Album Review: Clare Belford, The Entire Cabbage

Recorded before a live audience in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Clare Belford’s debut album The Entire Cabbage is a strong reflection of her ability to craft relatable material while establishing a genuine (and seemingly effortless) connection with an audience. 

Off the top, Belford unpacks some of the absurd interactions she’s had because of her name (“do you prefer Clare or Clarr?”) Opening with this premise was a strong decision because its relatability primes the listener for material born out of personal experiences and everyday-absurdities that are prevalent throughout the album.

While her endearing charm and on-stage authenticity makes her relatable to most audience demographics, Belford’s material resonates the most with young adults in their 20s and mid-30s. With stories about working as both a waitress and a comedian, not living up to her grandmother’s expectations, and a brutal rundown about men born after 1992, Belford’s material serves as a strong 2021 millennial snapshot. Perhaps the album’s strongest track is the ‘cabbage’ premise that unites listeners of all ages with the struggles of maintaining both a healthy diet and track sheet of how to eat a seemingly unending cabbage. 

Belford’s ease and comfort on stage paired with her strong writing makes The Entire Cabbage equal parts entertaining and satisfying. Once again, opening the album with stories about her name was a wise choice, because in the landscape of Canadian comedy - Clare Belford is a name listeners should not forget. 

The Entire Cabbage was released August 13, 2021 on Comedy Records.
Listen to it here.