The Revolutionary Hydra - The Antiphony
(Elsinor)
Indie-pop hasn't sounded this good to me for some time. The Revolutionary Hydra, so
named for their three songwriters (I assume), hail from the same Northwest area that
brings us Death Cab for Cutie, K Records, and Microsoft. Their songwriting gels
together into a cohesive "band" feeling (unlike other three-headed acts as Sebadoh, which
always felt more like a songwriter's guild than a unified band), and The Antiphony
showcases their styles across 17 songs.
The most obvious comparison would be Death Cab for Cutie, though The Revolutionary
Hydra are quirkier and somewhat calmer. Their palette is limited, but effective--they
never bring anything new to the indie-pop genre (apart from some strange drum effects),
instead working with the tools that they have. The liner notes are somewhat cryptic,
listing 11 people including an "Allisyn Levy"--possibly the Allison Levy of the Loud
Family? Unlike that other West Coast pop band, the Revolutionary Hydra are more
influenced by 90s guitar pop than anything else (though they share a lyrical similarity
with Scott Miller).
The title track is perhaps the highlight (standing apart on the lyrics sheet) as male and
female vocals softly converse over banjo-accented casio beats. The song's coda is a
shimmery guitar strum over which the singer dolefully sings "I would like to go to Virginia
someday.' The song feels incomplete, and like the best Guided by Voices songs, it
works better than if it were fully-realized, leaving lots of room for suggestion.
The album certainly contains fully developed songs, such as "Astoria Larking," an
escapist tune rooted in Americana. The songs are mostly light-hearted and occasionally
goofy as the rocker "Freemasons: Shinplaster of Shinsplints." "Co-Pilots of the LCD
Screen" is a somewhat emotional, nostalgic tune to a childhood friend--the music is
delicate, but determined. Nothing is overbearing about the Revolutionary Hydra--even
the louder songs do not sound forceful, just fun.
Each song sketches a pleasant landscape that avoids the saturation of too-sweet twee
pop while backing it up with decent musical chops. There's nothing mindblowing about
The Antiphony, but each repeated listen brings out new highlights. I'll even say that
there isn't a bad song on the album.
|
