DOWNLOAD THEN SEE: Happy Hollows

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 16, 2010 7:45PM

Happy Hollows' debut Spells has been one of those albums that keeps sneaking its way into our listening rotation. Upon first listen the group has a sweet dissonance to their songs akin to a thin veneer of sandpaper surrounding a pixie stick. Singer Sarah Negahdari has a spiky yet subtly slurred delivery that slips between yelps, a middle pleasant melodicism, and sexy lower end just north of an actual growl that produces a menace where most others might reach towards comfort. The music is excitable and raucous, built upon the shoulders of the earlier phases of the Alternative Nation, but whereas those days produced bands hiding a mighty studio veneer, Happy Hollows sounds as if acid was allowed to drip into the mixing board.

We're sharing two of their songs with you in hopes of motivating you to catch the L.A.-based band's show at Beat Kitchen tonight. "High Wire" may be the most commercial song on the album, hewing as it does to their take on more traditional hooks. Spells actually opens with the second tune "Faces," and it's more typical of the rush provided by the rest of the album.

MP3: Happy Hollows "High Wire"
MP3: Happy Hollows "Faces"

Happy Hollows plays with Mr. Russia and Grooms tonight, June 16, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont, 8 p.m., $8, 21+