Hospitality

Hospitality | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 31, 2012
• Label: Merge Records
• Copyright: 2012 Merge Records
• Total Length: 32:54
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi
  • Rock
• ASIN: B0071T66E2
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,126 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great Brooklyn band...of course. February 25, 2012

By J. Hubner

Format:Audio CD

There was a time, back around 2008-2009, when it seemed like every new band that was gracing Pitchfork's home page was from Brooklyn. The Antlers, Bear In Heaven, Dirty Projectors, MGMT, The National(via Ohio). And surprisingly, most of these bands lived up to the hype. But at some point I got to be rather disgruntled with the whole `Brooklyn Scene'. Mostly to due with myself and needing to hear about a new scene. When was the Ann Arbor indie music explosion going to happen? I'd totally be down with the Pittsburgh electronic scene, or the Peoria art rock scene.

But, being a realist and eventually giving in to the common sense that lurks somewhere behind my cerebral cortex, I gave in to the Brooklyn scene. I love quite a bit that's come out of Brooklyn. The Antlers, Bear In Heaven, LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, MGMT, The National(via Ohio), Sufjan Stevens(via Michigan) and the Sweathogs. Add to that list of Brooklyn bands, Hospitality.

There's a warmness to Hospitality's self-titled debut. It's one of those records that makes you feel good. Makes you grin from ear to ear. There's a bouncy jubilance to songs like `Friends of Friends' and `The Right Profession'. The arrangments are simple, yet never twee. There's a rough edge to the poppy and punky guitar. I'm reminded of Deerhoof's guitar blast moments on albums like Friend Opportunity and The Runners Four. Song-wise, `Friends of Friends' is an in-your-face pop confection that could give the dead a pulse. 'Betty Wang' sounds like a Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks b-side. Something left off of Mirror Traffic perhaps. `Julie' changes things up a bit. With more of a down beat and hazy organ in the background, the tracks `slow build-up that never quite finds resolution' leaves you feeling unnerved and wanting more.

There's influences-a-plenty here: from 60's pop courtesy of the Velvet Underground and the Zombies, to more guitar blasting and punky swagger in the neighborhood of the aformentioned Deerhoof, Best Coast and Karen O on one of her sunnier days. Vocally, lead yelper Amber Papini has a huge voice. Big and in the front of the mix, she belts out words as if her life depended on it. Echoes of Juliana Hatfield, Bethany Cosentino and especially Allison LaBonne of the more obscure indie band The Owls. Papini can be sweet as pie and yet you get the feeling she could give you the shiner of a lifetime if the mood struck her. She makes these great tunes pop.

With this great debut, we can only look forward to more great albums from this band. If you like your pop a little on the loud, catchy and at times melancholy side, be sure to grab this record.

Brooklyn, you've done it again. Damn you.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Songs That Linger February 3, 2012

By N. Watkins

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

These songs will linger in your head (in the best way possible) long after listening. The album is the perfect mix of jangly guitars, power chords, clever lyrics, and fanciful vocals. You will hear echoes of The Sugarcubes, Frente, Elastica, The Shins, and Billy Bragg blended here.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Tunes February 6, 2012

By T. Sheeran

Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like this band, their song Friends of Friends & Betty Wang were what got me to purchase this album. I collect vinyl, it sounds crisp & clean. I think their sound is as fun as indie can be - without getting too weird for the average listener - or without being too gimmicky. I highly recommend this band if you like Feist, Deerhoof, Best Coast, things with fun female vocals.

Also this would be great to play for a get together or mellow dinner party. I can play it at work & not freak anyone out. :)