CD Review: The Happy Hollows

CD: Bunnies and Bombs

If Alan Lomax had been born 70 years later, he’d probably be gallivanting around the U.S. right now with a digital MP3 recorder trying to capture the essence of American music much like he did with that big ol’ analog rig in the early years of the last century. He’d no doubt still return from his travels with a boatload of bare-bones jazz, blues, and folk, but I’m guessing he also would have figured out that some of the most vital music of the last 40 years was and is generated in the garages and basements of suburbia.

Exhibit A: The Happy Hollows.

Most of the people constantly yammering on about how they “keep it real” seem to be the farthest thing from it, manufacturing their personas in their myopic little worlds. The one thing I couldn’t get over as I repeatedly listened to this disc was the feeling that this was something real. And no, by that I don’t mean overtly pouty, political, angst-ridden, or any of the sort. This is just the sound of people playing passionately, singing about things they know (I’d have never thought a song about the anger associated with constantly losing pens could be such a barn-burner), and doing it with a smirk, a yell, and a shoestring budget.

It also doesn’t hurt to have such an oddly charismatic lead singer. I use “oddly” because Sarah Negahdari has the same qualities that make artists like Cibo Matto and Shonen Knife such intriguing listens. Her vocals can be whisper quiet at times, even when the music doesn’t follow suit, and they have an endearing but deceptive naivety to them that quickly vanishes when she launches into vocalizations that defy what I thought the human voice was capable of. For evidence of this, check out “Trolls” (probably the most offbeat, and my favorite track on the disc) and her hysterical/maniacal whelps during the…what the heck is that anyway, the chorus? The song structures are not always your typical “verse/chorus/verse/bridge/bring it on home” ordeals, which make for some additional enjoyable moments.

That brings me to the next point — a great band is comprised of members who know their role and don’t push the internal boundaries in ways they shouldn’t. Case in point, remember all of Einar Benediktsson’s weird “hey, I’m great too!” vocals in the Sugarcubes, when all we really wanted to hear was Bjork? Dude, don’t be a distraction, just play to the strengths of the group…which, in the case of The Happy Hollows, bassist Charlie Mahoney and drummer Chris Meanie do with flair.

They provide a solid poppy/punky rhythmic foundation for Sarah’s vocals and guitar, and when they pipe in on vocals it is always a welcome addition.

For all you guys out there, “Tell Me” is the sound of your high school crush turning out to be cooler than you even thought and making Suzanne Vega inspired demos in her bedroom. Seriously. That’s what it sounds like.

For all you girls out there, I challenge you to try to curb your curiosity for what a song called “My Wet Tongue” sung by a female vocalist might be about. Personally, that one is a real head-scratcher for me and I’d love to be enlightened!