Artist: Hippo Campus
Label: Grand Jury Music
Release Date: October 9, 2015
Release Date: October 9, 2015
Duration: 11 tracks, 41:52
Few times have popular indie-rock been affected as when The Knack
happened upon the music scene in the late ‘70s. Fresh, crisp and playful,
everything clicked – then the flame quickly died. With Hippo Campus this same
event again flames bright. Fresh, crisp and playful with prose having the
ability to evoke many thoughts, clean and bright lead guitar with the rhythm
guitar not only giving foundation but playfully mixing in, vocals both lead and
chorus strong and youthful, bass and drum laying a firm foundation. Everything
clicks new, clean and bright!
On an early winter Saturday morning I had the good fortune to be
watching CBS This Morning and their Saturday Sessions musical showcase. On that
day Hippo Campus played “South”, “Dollar Bill” and “Little Grace”. I was blown
away:
The Halocline EPs is the combination of the band’s two previously
released EPs, Bashful Creatures and South. Together, the collection soars in
emotion with each song branding its own meaning for the listener. On one or two
occasions the use of profanity underscores the song’s message rather than evoke
a glam emotion. Throughout, the simple prose of the bands youthful subject
matter takes on deeper meaning through the vocals of Jake
Luppen playing tightly with the lead guitar of Nathan
Stocker.
Youth’s experience is displayed in songs
“Souls” speaking of youthful ignorance and “Little Grace” (explicit language)
storying societal girls and jealous boys. “Opportunistic” displays youthful
indulgence and lose while “Suicide Saturday” attempts to balance youth’s vision
of society and self eventually committing social suicide.
Youthful lose is found in the lyrics of
“South” with:
Three leagues down the soft side of where you left my
Gold rose crown, you broke down, and left me with a
Chest hum, a black gun, and forty dollars
Chest hum, a black gun, and forty dollars
Three weeks down, I drowned myself in whiskey
Came back round, drowned out, and left me with a
Chest hum, a black gun, and forty dollars
Chest hum, a black gun, and forty dollars
Streetlights talk the same way my mother told me
I walk the same way my father told me
Back straight, chest out, just like a soldier
Back straight, chest out, just like a soldier
Wise men talk the same way my mother told me
I walk the same way my father told me
Back straight, chest out, just like a soldier
Back straight, chest out, just like a soldier
Both the hard hitting “Dollar Bill”
speaking of the world’s sin and loathing, and “Bashful Creatures” (explicit
language) exploding with emotion regarding the shame and embarrassment shown by
overly self-conscious youth are powerful in content
With this Minneapolis-based band having its senior member all of 21
years old, their youthful spirit is at one exhibiting revolt and at another
despair. The listener is easily impressed by their maturity of lyric as well as
their musicianship. With The Rolling Stone stating ‘the band is one to watch’
and ‘taking Lollapalooza by storm’ in 2015 it would seem their future is
bright.
Let’s hope the flame grows strong and not one to burn out quickly.
Scott S Mertens
4 1/2 tocks
No comments:
Post a Comment