The Mother Hips - Green Hills of Earth
(Future Farmer)
According to their bio, The Mother Hips "began
recording their latest [fifth] album trying to make
music in this new decade that would sound like a band
that wasn't part of it." They definitely succeeded
with Green Hills of Earth. The Mother Hips sound like
any band you would hear on a classic rock or easy
listening station. This makes Green Hills of Earth
good or bad, depending on whether or not you like
classic rock or easy listening.
Green Hills of Earth is good if you like vocals with
Beach Boys-like harmonies or loving, acoustic songs
reminiscent of Hootie and the Blowfish or Ben Folds
Five. Singer and guitarist Tim Bluhm has a strong,
clear voice, and he often makes lovely harmonies with
other members of the band. Sha-la-las and
yeah-yeah-yeahs are abundant. Pleasant acoustic
guitars and piano grace several songs, as do plenty of
sweet guitar solos.
Green Hills of Earth is bad if you were hoping to
hear something creative or innovative. The Mother Hips
play their instruments well, and the songs have nice
melodies, but this CD doesn't stand out. Sure, not
many bands are playing their type of music now, but
maybe that's because it got worn out in decades past.
Although The Mother Hips were trying to make this
album "a little more experimental," I'm not sure what
they were experimenting with, since the smattering of
sound effects or the occasional melotron didn't affect
the easy listening feel of this CD at all. The Green
Hills of Earth is a straightforward and accessible
rock CD. It is also pretty boring.
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