So why don’t we kick this off with an album review or two?
Say Hi -- Um, Uh Oh Barsuk Records
So I went to Amoeba Records on Sunday looking for a new album to review. Spent about an hour looking over the New Release section, checking out album cover art, little placards with record store staff comments, and going on just plain gut feelings. What steered me toward the Say Hi album is hard to say, but I certainly have no regrets with this purchase. Um, Uh Oh is Say Hi’s January 25th release on Seattle’s Barsuk Records, who have released all seven of the band’s efforts since 2002.
A one-man project led by Seattle’s Eric Elbogen, Say Hi is famous, or rather infamous for its revolving lineup of touring band members. Elbogen is rumored to have never toured with the same band twice, having fired all previous band members and is notorious for perfectionist ways. Revolving band or not, one thing has been consistent and remains as such and that is the solid pared-down pop that Say Hi has been producing and continue to deliver on Um, Uh Oh.
One of the notes I scribbled down when listening to this album was “Should be on Gossip Girl,” and in my research I found out that one of the stand-out tracks on this album, Devil, was actually feature on the show. Devil’s biting baseline and sparse and mischievous vocals lend themselves well to the darker side of the show. Of the track, Elbogen says “That song is about being right on the edge of not being able to turn back from just being a bitter, grumpy, lonely, depressed old man,” he adds “I like to make these really serious songs with overarching heavy themes that are just slightly ridiculous.”
Other highlights on the album are the softer flowing vocals on Pretty Ones, The contagious beats of Take you Dancing and the moody baselines of Posture, Etc. Most of the lyrics on this album seem to explore the lighter side of topics that could be construed as melancholy themes like uncertainties of a new relationship, making a deal with the Devil, and repeating the same mistakes. Somehow they come across with a toe-tapping smirk. All in all a good purchase that I would recommend for anyone looking for a solid pop album that errs on the peppy, polished side of lo-fi.
Say Hi is playing Los Angeles at the Echo on March 23rd
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3266475
You can download a free MP3 of the track Devil here:
-Laura in LA
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