OKComputer1016
07/12/08, 01:58 PM
Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle
Record Label: Suicide Squeeze Records
Release Date: August 19, 2008
While listening to Moody Motorcycle, I forgot that I was even reviewing an album... I just felt like I was surrounded by something awesome, like somebody was playing specifically to me. Human Highway’s music sounds like it’s an old favorite that you’re coming back to, even on the first listen. So don’t misjudge the hokey, (probably) ironically-cheesy album photos and expect an album of full-of-self songwriter garbage: what you can expect is a throwback sound that takes as much from 60’s pop standards as it asserts its own modern sound.
The percussion in particular is very 2008, rounding out each of the songs with a dancey sort of groove but never taking away from the overall melancholia of the distantly churning guitar chords. Take the opener, “The Sound,” for example – you’d have a hard time finding a more catchy Beach Boys vocal line anywhere, let alone such a creative one with Danger Mouse-sounding drums. This should cater directly to anyone who was a fan of Beck’s latest album (even if this is about 900% less trippy), or else just anyone with a good sense for hook-laden, My Morning Jacket-type song sensibility.
“All Day” sounds half like a long lost Paul Simon track and half like a Red Stripe commercial. It’s as chilled out as music can be, the sound of truly letting all your problems float away. The vocal harmonies are inviting (perhaps you’d like to harmonize too?), and the progression is authentically, replay-warrantingly catchy, but not stupid catchy.
The reason why the songwriting is so strong is because the group is a collaborative union between two already acclaimed musicians: Nick Thorburn from Islands and solo artist Jim Guthrie. By fusing in some of what made Guthrie’s 2003 Now More Than Ever so successful (specifically, heartfelt direction) and a tiny bit of Islands’ knack for experimenting, Human Highway have crafted a debut about as good as debuts get. They haven’t necessarily reinvented any genres or anything, but their expertise in the field of folk music is totally worth hearing by pretty much everybody.
Whatever you’re into, Moody Motorcycle will steal your heart. These songs could fit in on the "Scrubs" soundtrack or else re-inspire some vinyl collector who’d given up hope in modern music (or both at once). You could listen to this album while you smoke a joint or else while you propose to your girlfriend (or perhaps, both at once). What else can I say? This rules.
My Morning Jacket (before Evil Urges of course), Dr. Dog, Beck’s Modern Guilt
myspace.com/humanhighway (http://www.myspace.com/humanhighway)
Record Label: Suicide Squeeze Records
Release Date: August 19, 2008
While listening to Moody Motorcycle, I forgot that I was even reviewing an album... I just felt like I was surrounded by something awesome, like somebody was playing specifically to me. Human Highway’s music sounds like it’s an old favorite that you’re coming back to, even on the first listen. So don’t misjudge the hokey, (probably) ironically-cheesy album photos and expect an album of full-of-self songwriter garbage: what you can expect is a throwback sound that takes as much from 60’s pop standards as it asserts its own modern sound.
The percussion in particular is very 2008, rounding out each of the songs with a dancey sort of groove but never taking away from the overall melancholia of the distantly churning guitar chords. Take the opener, “The Sound,” for example – you’d have a hard time finding a more catchy Beach Boys vocal line anywhere, let alone such a creative one with Danger Mouse-sounding drums. This should cater directly to anyone who was a fan of Beck’s latest album (even if this is about 900% less trippy), or else just anyone with a good sense for hook-laden, My Morning Jacket-type song sensibility.
“All Day” sounds half like a long lost Paul Simon track and half like a Red Stripe commercial. It’s as chilled out as music can be, the sound of truly letting all your problems float away. The vocal harmonies are inviting (perhaps you’d like to harmonize too?), and the progression is authentically, replay-warrantingly catchy, but not stupid catchy.
The reason why the songwriting is so strong is because the group is a collaborative union between two already acclaimed musicians: Nick Thorburn from Islands and solo artist Jim Guthrie. By fusing in some of what made Guthrie’s 2003 Now More Than Ever so successful (specifically, heartfelt direction) and a tiny bit of Islands’ knack for experimenting, Human Highway have crafted a debut about as good as debuts get. They haven’t necessarily reinvented any genres or anything, but their expertise in the field of folk music is totally worth hearing by pretty much everybody.
Whatever you’re into, Moody Motorcycle will steal your heart. These songs could fit in on the "Scrubs" soundtrack or else re-inspire some vinyl collector who’d given up hope in modern music (or both at once). You could listen to this album while you smoke a joint or else while you propose to your girlfriend (or perhaps, both at once). What else can I say? This rules.
My Morning Jacket (before Evil Urges of course), Dr. Dog, Beck’s Modern Guilt
myspace.com/humanhighway (http://www.myspace.com/humanhighway)