Review Archive: H

...Rocks Your Lame Ass  

I first heard Hagfish on the radio, but I didn't know who they were (since I don't go to the Hoffman contests, I missed out on hearing them constantly play this album). I thought they sounded a lot like All, except the lyrics were stupid. Well, that song ("Stamp") still has stupid lyrics (though it's catchy, I'll admit), but the remaining 13 songs are better, mainly focusing on girls. Hagfish kinda reminds me of the current All (with a better singer) doing Descendents songs--fast, poppy, and energetic. It might have something to do with the fact that it was produced by Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton.

As the band's name subtly implies, Hallraker has a sound that recalls 1980's SST bands: Black Flag, Descendents, Husker Du. The music is fast and angry punk/hardcore, and the vocals remind me of early Henry Rollins. Not the most original music I've heard, but it IS really good — definitely worth getting if you dig the early SST stuff. Standouts include "Twenty on One", "Recession", and "Small Sunshine".

Operation Heavenly  

Heavenly has gotten better and better at crafting great pop songs, and this is no different. Well, slightly different. Operation Heavenly rocks harder than past records — not exactly Helmet-hard, but it does have more guitar than you'd probably expect from Heavenly. Fortunately, with 11 tracks there are more songs than past releases, and they're all good. "K-Klass Kisschase" and "Ben Sherman" are so much fun to listen to and alone are worth the price of the CD. If I had to say something bad about this album, it'd be with the backing vocals on "Pet Monkey" supplied by Beat Happening's Calvin Johnson (who you might remember from "C is the Heavenly Option"); his voice never sounds right to me. Despite my minor criticism, Operation Heavenly is a necessary part of any indie-pop collection, as well as being a great album to mark the unfortunate and tragic end (?) to this band.

Right on Time  

I actually bought this earlier this year, and I've been listening to it an awful lot since then...why it took so long to end up as Album of the Month is kind of a mystery I guess. There are very few (if any) ska bands that are as smooth and soulful as Hepcat. They've got a great 60's ska sound blended with rocksteady, calypso and jazz, and Right On Time has some of the best material they've ever done (and you know they've had a pretty good track record): "I Can't Wait", "Rudies All Around", "No Worries"...you'll be grooving all night to this record. Of course, Hepcat also serves up instrumentals ("Pharoah's Dreams", "Tommy's Song") with some great soloing, too. There's also a funny & clever response to the Stubborn All-Star's "Open Season" — "Open Season...Is Closed" — accepting their toasting challenge...a sort of good-natured East Coast-West Coast rivalry. Not a bad minute on this CD.

The Hi Hats say that Ska Got Soul is the bomb, and they ain't lying! This is one of my most listened-to ska albums, and with good reason. I got my first taste of the Hi Hats a couple years ago on the Boston ska compilation Mash it Up Vol. 2. The two songs on that CD — "She's My" and "No Way Out" — were among the best on it, and they appear (re-recorded) on this album as well. But the Hi Hats are not two-hit wonders. Combining ska and soul (complete with James Brown style "heeeey"s peppered here and there), they supply songs that can get the lamest of white guys (i.e. me) in the mood to dance. And in the process supply some of the catchiest tunes this side of the Allstonians. "Are You Ready?", "Real Deal", "Just Askin' ", and the title track prove it: place on ground, light fuse, get away.

Burn Tempe to the Ground  

This album is by no means new. It was recorded July 1995 and released later that year, but it's taken this long before it's fallen into my hands. Although Horace Pinker may not be one of the most original pop-punk bands around, they do have a distinct and easily-recognizable sound — mainly due to Scott Eastman's vocals. And though they go as far as to say (in the liner notes) that they can't even play their instruments, they obviously fake it well enough to produce a follow-up to 1994's Power Tools. Burn Tempe to the Ground is a much more consistent album. While the songs their first record ranged from good to mediocre (and never quite equaling the great opening track, "First Everything"), Burn never loses its pace and power. In fact, it builds throughout the twelve songs and peaks with the final cut, "Song About Selling Out". Horace Pinker is a band who works with what they have, and in this case are able to come up with quite a good album.

High Heels Slut  

God damn, this is terrible. Lame punk with stupid lyrics about sex and stuff. "My Panties Are Too Tight"? Glad to hear it. This sucks.

Make Up the Breakdown  

Hot Hot Heat's catchy, 80's-inspired guitar/keyboard pop is a breath of fresh air. (Can it really be fresh if it's got retro appeal? No matter.) I've read a lot of comparisons to early XTC, but Hot Hot Heat's sound also mixes in a bit of early Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Robert Smith. Screw the 80's new wave comparisons...this review sucks, but Make Up the Breakdown is a really good album. Best cuts: "No, Not Now", "Get In or Get Out", "Bandages", and "This Town".

Forever and Counting  

Dual guitars and harsh vocals caught in fierce combat over a fast-paced, rythmically building bass and drum kit produces a heartfelt, metal tinged series of emocore. I find a few elements of Jawbreaker here and there, which is never, ever a bad thing. Overall, this is a very original sound, confusing and mesmerizing the listener simultaneously, and never leaving disappointment in its place. And what's more, there is hidden advice for flatlanders struggling to pull a trick. Hot Water Music preaches, "Clear your conscience, and ride away." How appropriate. [Brian Tunney]

I haven't really been blown away by a band in a while, but Huffy broke the hell out of that dry spell. Hailing from the land of cows, Ben & Jerry, and Phish, Huffy (coincidentally my first BMX bike) plays some rockin' pop-punk with vocals that remind me of J Mascis. If this doesn't leaving you craving a full-length real soon, then apparantly you're not me...

Huffy's 7" on Ringing Ear Records was one of the best singles I had heard in a long time, so naturally I was excited when I heard that they released a CD. I'll come right out now and say that there isn't anything quite as catchy as "Anything Goes" from the single, but it's still a really good album. Huffy has a Dinosaur Jr. kind of sound, with slightly scratchy vocals over heavy power-pop (for lack of a better description). Lyrics are slightly ambiguous but interesting — no cheesy pop songs or (at the other end of the spectrum) pretentious musings. As usual, I tend to prefer the faster songs: "Chopper Pilot", "Bring It On", "Punchee", and "Surfcaster" are the standouts here.

Live Forever or Die Trying  

First of all, I gotta say that the album cover is pretty lame. But for pretty much near-straight rock & roll, this isn't too bad. Many of these 17 songs tend to blend together, but there are some decent standouts. A lot of the songs have pretty dumb lyrics, not that I was really expecting much from a bunch of guys who call themselves "The Humpers." But I'll admit that I sometimes find myself singing "Wake Up & Lose" to myself, usually in the morning.

Plastique Valentine  

The Humpers don't use any tricks in their music — no flashy guitar solos, mid-song tempo changes, or surprises. No-frills, high energy, rock-and-roll is the key here. Things are better when The Humpers are playing fast (the slow "Here Comes Nothing" is tired and drags on), and luckily that's what they do most on Plastique Valentine.