Houndmouth

-Album Reviewed by Diana Mumford–

Warm weather is here and the time is right to grab your mason jars and a bottle of whiskey, kick back on the front porch, and give a listen to Houndmouth. Houndmouth is a quartet out of New Albany, Indiana, consisting of Matt Myers (guitar), Katie Toupin (keyboard), Zak Appleby (bass), and Shane Cody (drums). All four band members contribute vocals, creating beautiful harmonies that pack venues. Likewise, Houndmouth’s eclectic style and diverse sound derives from collaborative songwriting among the band members. Think Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes meets Bob Dylan with a sprinkling of the Mamas and the Papas and you’ve got .

Though Houndmouth’s first album, From the Hills Below the City, placed them among such prominent groups as The Lumineers and Mumford and Sons, the band used their second album to break out of their staid Americana mold. In doing so, they’ve created a more personal album. Little Neon Limelight is full of songs that share an embellished or romanticized view of their own experiences as opposed to the mostly fictional characters that comprised their first album. My Cousin Greg is partly inspired by Matt Myers’ real life cousin “Greg,” but mostly based on seedy extrapolations of this relative’s personality. The band opens with leisurely electric guitar riffs and the verse, “My cousin Greg, he’s a greedy son of a bitch.” The chorus is a harmony of “If you want to live the good life, you’d better stay away from the limelight.” It’s a song as swaggering and unhurried as Cousin Greg.

Post Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com

Sedona, one the other hand, is more refined and ethereal. The band’s first single from the album is already receiving accolades and radio play across the country. “Hey little Hollywood, you’re gone but not you’re forgotten,” the band harmonizes. It’s hard not to sing along to this upbeat and nostalgic song.

Truly, every song on this album is a gem. It’s the kind of album you’ll want to purchase on vinyl. Houndmouth is a band that’s hard to pigeonhole into a genre, but their talent has earned them appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and performances at SXSW. Their devoted fan base ensures each venue is packed. Catch them on tour now nationwide.

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