Harper Blynn – Loneliest Generation

Rating:

Harper Blynn (formerly Pete and J) are a group out of Zoo York that have undergone a rebranding (moving to their last names instead of their first names!!!) and have put out an album that seems somewhat timeless. Loneliest Generation struck me as an album that could come out anytime between the mid 80′s college rock scene and now. I immediately heard influences of Crowded House, Michael Penn, and pop sensibilities of the Bens (Ben Folds, Ben Lee, Ben Kweller). In a music climate that embraces going back to the sounds of the New Wave 80′s (i.e. The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat, and of course the Killers), Harper Blynn is taking a trip in the way-back machine but going to a very different part of the 80′s: College Rock aka the real Alternative.

The opening track “25 years” combines the pop aesthetics of an upbeat Billy Bragg song with the synth melody reminiscent of MGMT’s “Time to Pretend”(and you know how catchy that is) . It works really well together and sets the mood for the rest of the album. “Steal Your Love” has a Smithereens guitar-driven angst to it that makes it sound like you’ve heard the song before, yet retains an incredible amount of originality. ”The Doubt” has a very empty sound to it and puts visions of packing up old photos in a basement after a messy separation in my head. Sullen guitar lines play out over a worn beating of the toms and create a morose mood without being overly dramatic. The title track “Loneliest Generation” has a great dance feel to it that has a Ted Leo/Pharmacists feel to it. It definitely will get all the booties shaking live. “Luck Struck Kitty” has a Wilco a la “I Am Trying to Break Your heart” vocal structure to it. “Centrifugal Motion” has a very new wave mechanically chopped sound (think “Psycho Killer”) that leads into a very fluid chorus and vocal harmonies.

Normally I don’t like reviewing albums in order to solely compare them to other acts. It insinuates that the band is unoriginal and doesn’t have their own sound. Harper Blynn is able to blend many different sounds into each other which creates their own sound: because HB doesn’t sound like any of the other bands per se. It is like a fine Belgian beer that is able to capture nuances of a multitude of flavors and still retain its individuality. They’re able to take aspects of their musical forefathers and create something of their own.

I’ll cheers to that!

[Editors note: Harper Blynn - Loneliest Generation is only available digitally until April when it will be released on CD by Baby Jackal Records]

Harper Blynn – Loneliest Generation