“I can see you,” Hollow Head sing on their warped one-minute song “pink silohuette,” off their new rollicking rock n roll 9-track, self-titled album. It’s a concept that comes up a number of times on the record, whether it’s the opening number of the same name, which starts off the record with a cynical look at humanity, or it’s the love song, “Another Day,” where they sing one of the most powerful lines from the album: “There’s no burning quite like I do for you.”
It’s fitting for a tight knit band that writes stellar alternative rock songs, like Hollow Head, who are bound to get more and more exposure for their unique sound, already making waves in places like Nashville and Austin. Their music is filled with the perfect harmonies, wonderfully searing guitars, and hooks for miles. That’s the thing that struck me about this album as compared to their last, (which I thoroughly enjoyed,) the guitars have stepped it up a notch, following in the footsteps of bands like the Foo Fighters (and some of my favorite Foo Fighters’ songs, too,) and rocking your face off. It certainly helps that they’ve added players Ian Gerrard and John Baldwin to the lineup.
But the thing about the band is that the guitars are in service to the song, not the other way around. There’s a bit of screaming, a lot of singing, and most of the songs have many satisfying parts to their songs. It’s ambitious to self title any album, especially your second. But like they say, hopefully they’ll be playing these songs for many years to come.
Jimmy Adame and Elliott Miller, the original core of the band, are young men from Denver, but seem to have many more years under the belts, as evidenced by both their mature lyrics and their seasoned songwriting. Their last album, A Spark of Madness, was one of my favorites of the year, and this one’s in the running for best album of this year, as well. If you like your music visceral but sophisticated, vulnerable but hard as nails, if you like good music, check this album out.
Prism Reviews 