Limbeck - Hi, Everything's Great

Limbeck
Hi, Everything's Great
Doghouse Records
Grade: A-/A

As the second album from this Southern Californian four-piece, Limbeck has truly out done themselves with a spectacular offering on twelve tracks of rock goodness. Taking a stronger turn towards the alt-country branch of the family, the theme of Hi, Everything's Great is the greatness of the American road (get it - the title is what you write on a postcard). As will be dutifully described, this is an album that is hard to get tired of listening to.

Limbeck first broke onto the scene with This Chapter Is Called Titles in 2001 and took their place amongst the other hundred pop-punk orientated bands in Orange County, CA. Probably deciding that they wanted to distinguish themselves a bit more from the fold, singer-guitarist Robb MacLean and the band took the memories of the road and put them to song. Crossing the Rockies to spend time in the plains of Kansas, Limbeck recorded Hi with the ever-amazing producer Ed Rose. Ed Rose is noted for a number of projects, but is mostly associated with producing the Get Up Kids releases. Taking a lesson from country and alt-country bands like Old 97's, Uncle Tupelo and Hank Williams, Limbeck sought to put some of this Americana flavor to a new set of tracks - and a new musical life. Patrick Carrie fiddled with MacLean on finding the right sound for the guitar work and Justin Entsminger and Matt Stephens filled out the rhythm sections. And thus, Hi was born.

Hi starts off on "Honk + Wave," with MacLean describing a lost love and now he finds himself in her state, the Beehive state, Utah. Out of this song you get the memorable line in the chorus of "if we drove side-by-side on a highway in the Beehive state, then we can honk and wave." While MacLean doesn't lament on this, he is more out to inflict a sense of sorrow on this unfortunate soul. Regardless of meaning, "Honk + Wave" musically sets the tone for the rest of the album. "Silver Things" starts out slow then builds admirably with a bit of country guitar fills and well-timed and quick-tempo hi-hat taps. Both of these tracks sets up the stellar track "Julia." "Julia" is featured on the latest Doghouse sampler and for good reason. As another song concerning traveling and the like, this one revolves around the ex-goth kid Julia and their conversations. While entrancing, there is a bridge on this song that gets your fists pumping like in "Dr. Worm" from They Might Be Giants. After a bad start to "This Place Is Deserted," Limbeck is able to revive the patient - by later chorus - but you may be inclined to skip past this one. "I Wrote This Down" only shows off its greatness after the opening salvo where Limbeck use a quietly-distorted guitar in an up-tempo pace chorus. While the use of the distortion is strategically planned, a wider use throughout the album might have been charming. After the solid "The Sun Woke the Whole State" and "Tan + Blue," "Gamblin' Man" truly goes after the road warrior spirit in country music. This is in no doubt amplified in the use of lap steel guitar and telecaster-driven solo fills. This is followed by the acoustic-focused "In Ohio on Some Steps," where MacLean is joined by Rachael Cantu on vocals and Chris Cron on keyboards that fill the room. The title of the song is what you might write on a picture that you took - and the song is a literal description of a day in Ohio. After the upbeat "Brand New Orange" and "Albatross + Ivy," the record closes on "Comin' From Tucson." Like "Julia," "Gamblin' Man" and "In Ohio on Some Steps," this song stands out as one of the album's best. "Comin' From Tucson" is a simple description of driving back to OC late at night from Tucson while everyone sleeps in the van. Again utilizing lap steel guitar, MacLean - with the help of Carrie on emphasis - describes the drive with wistful and longing lyrics that can only produce wide smiles for listeners.

Having just gotten off a tour with their superstar label mates the All-American Rejects, Limbeck have been able to plant their foot firmly in the rock world. Yet, with the release of Hi, Everything's Great their stock will surely rise faster than a crackhead with a just-scored twenty-rock.