Knox Hamilton | The Great Hall EP Review

Knox Hamilton is an up and coming band hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas. Their brand of music could be described as indie dance pop, electronic or even 70s reboot disco. One thing’s for certain though, their latest EP The Great Hall, is quite a bit of fun. Filled with tight hooks and danceable melodies this EP is packed with excellent tracks. The first track Work It Out opens up with a bit of an instrumental portion that has a very full and consuming feel to it on account of the background synth. The chorus for this track is pop perfection. Belting out “I know we can work it out”, when pertaining to a relationship, as it does in the context of this song, carries with it both a sense of optimism and youthful naiveté that melds perfectly with the upbeat cadence of the song. Another notable track on the EP is Ameritown, which is a synth heavy dance song with a simple enough premise… dancing, and sometimes that’s enough.  This EP seems to be a perfect fit for summer listening, it’s short, fun and capable of making a pleasant memory.

If you have been paying attention to the imposing trends in much of the music that has come out in the last year or so, you most likely have noticed the influx of disco inspired intros, picking progressions and structure. This is the trend and Knox Hamilton has tapped into it and you can listen to them on their bandcamp page here.      

Micah P. Hinson And The Nothing | Review

As with bands like Deer Tick or Dan Mangan, Micah P. Hinson dances on the line between alternative and traditional country music. He manages to not dive headfirst into the pitfalls of current popular country music which relies heavy on gimmickry and pretty faces. Instead, Hinson focuses on storytelling and ornate melodies to complete his songs. This may seem like a simple method to apply but it can often go so wrong and quite exciting to hear when it goes as right as it does on …And The Nothing. This is Hinson’s seventh album his last being in 2010 with …And the Pioneer Saboteurs. That being said, you can hear the intentional subtleties laced throughout this album that only come with time. 

   

As a singer Hinson manages to produce a feeling that resonates on each track, his voice echoes and quakes with a manner that is distinctive to him alone.  The first track off of the album How Are You Just A Dream is a fury of energy. Unlike what we heard on Hinson’s previous album …And The Nothing has a few songs that just rattle and hum.  This is a stark contrast from I Ain’t Movin’ which is a delicate piano melody.  Another track, with a particularly long title called, The Life, Living, Death And Dying, Of A Certain And Peculiar LJ Nichols, calls to mind certain Neil Young songs through its storytelling. Then comes Sons Of The Ussr, a track which stands out as the most distinct out of the album’s entire track list. The distinctiveness in this track comes from the ambient background keyboard portions, which create a dream like atmosphere. 

There is something distinctive and appealing to Hinson’s music. Whether it’s the storytelling, the orchestral element or simply the voice, Micah P. Hinson is a force that is too often overlooked and one to be reckoned with.