Customer Reviews

Honey in the Hive

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Track six is a hit, baby-you might as well just cue it to that once you tear off the plastic. Okay, I am getting ahead of myself. From the beginning then.

Besides an all-too-infrequent drinking jag in a steadily gentrifying dive on the south side of Center City, I really don't spend much time in Philadelphia anymore. Curiously, in my mind the city is basically the same as when I left it in 1999, except there is a fancy glass building on South Broad Street where there was a big hole the entire time I lived there.

That misguided belief that things haven't changed is why I am often almost stunned when I get wind of a Philly rock act making good. Not that there aren't dozens of hot rock teams plying their trade there. Indeed, incendiary sets on Philly stages by The Original Sins, Manta Ray and the almighty Lefty's Deceiver are lodged firmly in my head as probably some of the best performances I'll ever see. It's just that many bands have a way of getting stuck in Philadelphia and never getting deserved recognition.

Not so with The Bigger Lovers, a quartet whose latest record Honey in the Hive boasts hooky power pop in the vein of Big Star. Bret Tobias, who in a former life was one-third of late lamented Philly indie rock outfit Moped, fronts the band. However, gone are the fist-pounding rockers characteristic of Tobias' work with his earlier combo ("Does Your Back Hurt?" being one of the best). TBL writes yearning, layered numbers and Honey in the Hive, the band's second long player, is stacked with patient, glistening pop.

The crown jewel of this record is track six, "Bought Your Ghost." The song features some of the best harmonies and most impassioned lyrics, including the chorus' gripping question: "Was there nothing that I could say to make you change your mind?" The more aggressive rocker "Ivy Grows" is another standout track.

Yes, the constant references to Big Star are warranted. In addition to guitars steeped ankle-deep in reverb (as in the languid verse of "Emmanuelle"), Tobias' voice even occasionally pleads in the same attractively thin register as Alex Chilton's. But TBL is not as one-dimensional as the constant association with Big Star might suggest. On this album, contemporary local and national influences are also evident. The album's opener, "Half Richard's" has more than a passing similarity to the work of Philly rock outfit The Photon Band. And on "Don't Know Why" and "Make Your Day" Tobias' voice takes on a striking resemblance to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. The former song would fit nicely on Wilco's Being There.

Ultimately, however, The Bigger Lovers' songwriting lets the act carve out its own niche. The band crafts compositions more dense than any of the bands mentioned above and manufactures mountains of hooks using rather traditional rock elements. Christ, there are even handclaps and roller-rink organ lines on this record that rock. With the mainstream media's new fetish for the "return of rock," it may not be long before the Bigger Lovers finally draw the kind of attention they deserve. Honey in the Hive is the band's best calling card to date.

Jay Breitling
October 10, 2002

Great melodies, great harmonies, great compositions! Remember the first time you felt wonder? This album took me back to those times when simple things seemed like miracles, such as when a soap bubble would float away, then come back and sit next to you on the ground. There are some VERY memorable melodies, and a good mix of upbeat and mid-tempo songs on this CD. Highly recommended!

This album is The Bigger Lovers second release. The tunes are all very hummable and catchy. I especially enjoy Brett Tobias's powerful nasally delivery. There are no weak songs here. Personal favourites would be "Bought Your Ghost" and their version of the Delaney, Bonnie and Friends track "Don't Know Why". I also find "Ivy Grows" packs a serious punch. Fans of Robyn Hitchcock, Cheap Trick, Byrds, Raspberries, Gripweeds and Badfinger, this album is for you.

The Bigger Lovers' best album hands down, Honey in the Hive features some standout tracks and a step in the right direction for the band. Their debut had some moments, but dragged a bit. This album picks up the pace, and retains their jingly, sixties, pop style.

"Half Richard's" opens the album with a nice melodic guitar-filled 4:13. A great opener, unlike their debut. "A Simple How Are You" is great. Steady drums and piano catch your intention, and when the vocals come in, you can't help but hum along. What a perfect melody they've created here. Nice sound effects come in before the first chorus. This sounds like The Beach Boys meet Rogue Wave. One of my favorites on the album. "Emmanuelle" is a beautiful plea of a song and was stuck in my head for months- "Now Emman-u-elle, Now E-mman-uu-elllllll". Stellar production. "Make Your Day" starts like a 1990's Gin Blossoms song (Gin Blossoms?) but then begins to find its niche in the Bigger Lovers' catalogue. Not their best, but still enjoyable. "They Haunt Me Still" does just that... stirring guitars to match the vocals. This album, unlike their debut, continues to entertain by track 5.

"Bought Your Ghost" is the standout track, and of the two that prompted their entire catalogue purchase. What another great melody. Can't believe that so few have heard of these guys. "Don't Know Why" follows nicely and is playful pop throughout. Could easily have charted in 1965. It is (now) 2008, so maybe this is not as relevant, but it's nice nonetheless. "What Would it Take" is different... and highly enjoyable. That chorus, that chorus... "I IIIIII IIII IIII'll be waiting, I IIIIII IIIIII IIII'll be waiting"... It sounds like Scissors for Lefty ripped off the melody on their song "Nickels and Dimes". "You're In Love, Again" (60's pop) and "Ivy Grows" (heavier rock) aren't bad, but aren't ground breaking and don't help the album. "Minivan Blues" however uses a familiar piano loop recalling The Carpenters? and carries on until the albums close in a dreamy pop sentiment.

The Bigger Lovers deserve more recognition for Honey in the Hive. Truly spectacular indiividual songs (A Simple How Are You, Emmanuelle, Bought Your Ghost, What Would It Take) round out a stellar pop rock album. Highly recommended listening.

Hard to believe they're not on the radio but that's true of most pop bands, songs - Bought Your Ghost, Don't Know Why, Ivy Grows, Make Your Day, I also have purchased their previous CD titled How I Learned to Stop Worrying... and their latest, This Affair Never Happened... I really did not like either of those CDs very much. They just did not click with me like this one did. I am rooting for them to make more great Cds though.