#evamariaburns

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Lala Lala at The Neptune in Seattle, Washington. 10/25/2019

by Eva Maria Burns

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Julien Baker at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon. 10 December 2017.

by Eva Maria Burns

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Hippo Campus: Landmark

by Eva Maria Burns

Since meeting each other at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Nathan Stocker (Lead Guitar/ Vocals), Jake Luppen (Lead Vocal/Guitar), Whistler Allen (Drums/Vocals), and Zach Sutton (Bass) of Hippo Campus have left a mark within the music industry. Touring with acts like Little Comets, Walk the Moon, and Saint Motel, they have set free their unique and individual sounds and along the way have picked up a diverse audience of all types of listeners. With the release of their debut album, Landmark, they have captured within their sophisticated lyrics the broad themes of friendship and family, gaining love and losing it, and what’s to come in the future.

Starting the album off with the soft and delicate song, “Sun Veins”, Luppen begins to sing with an electronic modulation over soft synth sounds and background noises that eventually fades into the strumming of a guitar and upbeats sounds of the second track. “Way it Goes” is a personal favorite of mine. It captures a feel-good vibe, where you just find yourself with a beaming smile on your face. This song gives us a taste of their use of funky lyrics with lines like “Degenerate, counter-culture, crying Socialist” and “Hip-to-lazed crazed abstractionist”. Holding a steady drumbeat throughout, the song also features whimsical slide guitar parts and the smooth blaring of trumpet. “Vines” starts out with a soft drum beat only to lead into an airy atmospheric feeling with a quivery bass line and a strong, rhythmic guitar part. This song displays their emotions around the struggle of growing up alongside friends and the angst that comes with the journey toward becoming an adult. 

Slowing the album down, “Epitaph” is a song full of emotion and reverberation. Featuring a very dreamy atmosphere with melodic guitar playing, the lyrics paint an almost surreal picture. “Simple Season” sounds like a Bombay Bicycle Club wanna-be track, with a very catchy melody and upbeat lyrics. Up next is the song “Tuesday”, cracking jokes about the effects of drinking and how it impairs your feelings towards others. The guitar in this song is very twangy and sharp. “Western Kids” has a similar cleverness and phrasing to their hit song “Suicide Saturday”, from their first EP, Bashful Creatures. “Poems” tricks you while listening because it starts off extremely slow, only to lead into harsh almost distorted rock-like guitar and drums. “Monsoon” is the slowest song on the album. It has powerful instrumental sections and is sometimes very simplistic, yet it contains so much depth and meaning. 

“Vacation” is another favorite of mine. This song just calls to you to hop into an old Cadillac with the windows down, and just go on an adventure. However, at the same time, it reveals some vulnerable emotions around the struggle of finding out who you are with lyrics like “My thoughts are a battlefield of sub-surreal and unfamiliar dropping hallucinogens to find serene with oak and cedar.” “Boyish” is definitely the most upbeat and rocking track on the album. It is filled with a feverish animation and almost experimental instrumental arrangements. Near the end of the album is a short song entitled “Interlude” which uses a wide variety of sounds that combine all the expressions that the band is trying to display throughout the album. “Buttercup” is definitely the best choice to close off the album. The use of tambourine, drums, guitar and strong and powerful vocals reminds us of the theme of youth growing into maturity that repeats throughout the album.

Being a huge fan of the band myself, this album put into perspective what we can expect to see in the future. As they continue to project youthful charm and positivity towards the music that they make and their audience, they have also managed to tell a powerful story within this album using colorful instrumentals and spirited vocals. If they’re playing anyway near you I highly recommend seeing them live, as they are one of the most charismatic and lively groups I have seen play to this day. You will not regret it. In fact, you will most likely want to see them again and again.  

Listen to Landmark here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0vb1g018puu47StlIi9wxC

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Magic City Hippies at Neumos in Seattle, Washington, and the Wonder Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. 24,25 February 2017.

by Eva Burns

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Whitney at The Neptune in Seattle, Washington. 10/25/2019

by Eva Maria Burns

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The Paper Kites at The Neptune in Seattle, Washington. 9/16/19

by Eva Maria Burns

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Mac Demarco at the Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington. 5/11/19

by Eva Maria Burns

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Donna Missal at Neumos in Seattle, Washington. 4/24/19

by Eva Maria Burns