The Quintessential Alt-Country Album
Hey, everything is fine.
Hailing from southern California, alt-country quartet Limbeck originally began as a pop-punk/emo band. Their first release, This Chapter is Called Titles, was primarily a pop-punk album. After the release of their debut, their sound began its gradual shift toward alt-country. By the time their second album, Hi, Everything’s Great, was released, the band had completely abandoned their pop-punk roots for alt-country. As songwriting goes, geography seems to play a large role. On Hi, Everything’s Great specifically, lyrics often refer to certain highways in southern California that the average listener is in no way familiar with. However, the localized nature of some of its lyrics doesn’t do much to detract from the fact that Hi, Everything’s Fine is probably the best alt-country album ever. Even thought Limbeck’s 2003 Doghouse Records release, Hi, Everything’s Great, was officially their second album, it's really a debut album. Yes, they had released This Chapter is Called Titles as Limbeck, but their sound completely changed for their second album and they even went so far as to remove the songs from This Chapter is Called Titles from their live show altogether. When it was released, limited editions of Hi, Everything’s Great contained a bonus disc entitled Hey, Everything’s Fine, which contained the entire album performed acoustically in a live setting. Confused? Probably. The album manages to achieve something that is pretty rare in modern music. This is a record that is perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon while at the same time maintaining the energy necessary (with the exception of maybe one or two tracks) for a rockin’ dance party. Whether it’s the simply lovable chorus of “Honk & Wave” or the decidedly more relaxed offering of “The Sun Woke the Whole State,” Limbeck have a talent for writing songs that you want to listen to over and over again. Hi, Everything’s Great doesn’t have a single song that warrants skipping to the next. For this reason, it’s easy over the course of the album to get lost in the music, ignoring certain subtleties. For example, “Gamblin’ Man” contains a banjo that could be missed if you’re not really paying attention, but when you take notice, it makes the song even better. As previously stated, Limbeck’s Hi, Everything’s Great is a shining example of a great alt-country record. This is the perfect album to throw on pretty much any time. Unpacking after a move? Rock out to “Tan & Blue”. Unwinding after a crappy day at work? “I Wrote This Down” is perfect. Perhaps you’re just driving around with some friends because you have nothing else to do...turn up “Honk & Wave”. Whatever your musical needs, Limbeck has you covered. You can check out our interview with Limbeck from 2008 here.
Posted by Cory Roop on Mar 06, 2009 @ 11:00 am
