Music: Hollands: Mother

Our Take

The New York indie rock scene has continued to spawn a lot of interesting acts as of late, and one of the relatively newer bands to make its way into the spotlight is Hollands, who seamlessly blend the gap between indie rock, classic rock, and folk rock. On their second EP Mother the group demonstrates that they not only have mastery over all three of these styles, but that they also know how to write some genuinely catchy tunes that are sure to turn listeners into fans. And if they can continue this, it seems likely that Hollands will be a name people know in another year or so.

One of the main reasons that this group really stands out is due to the fact that all six of the songs on Mother offer something different and will keep listeners guessing what will come next. The band might begin with some really mellow classic/folk rock that still has a slightly dark tone and then move into some fast paced punk/indie rock that completely shifts gears and adds a lot more aggression. But no matter which direction Hollands seems to head in they always come out on top, as each track features tight instrumental work and catchy riffs that are sure to make this a disc listeners return to frequently. Although there are plenty of bands that Hollands sounds like on individual songs, as a whole there aren’t many acts that compare to their overall blend of styles and this definitely gives them an edge.

The vocals on Mother are very reminiscent of folk rock from the 60’s and 70’s, as Hollands’ singer has a mellow and laid back style that is sure to remind people of quite a few vocalists from those two decades. However, while the vocals are laid back there is a sense of dreariness and desperation present and this also is present throughout much of the lyrical content. Yet despite the overall dreariness hanging over this release, this is not an EP that will leave listeners feeling hopeless and drained. There is just something about the arrangements that make them sad yet hopeful, and this should add to the appeal.

Mother is an incredible EP and it should leave most listeners anxious for a full length from this band. Thanks to their great hooks and wide variety of musical styles Hollands has a bit more potential for mainstream exposures than some of their other indie rock peers, and I for one certainly hope that they are able to achieve it.

http://www.hollandsss.com

Chris Dahlberg
November 26, 2009