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: #13,810 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. Read more ›

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. :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best indie-pop album of the year October 20, 2012

By Tariq

Format:Vinyl

I've been reppin' this album pretty hard since it was released. It is, overall, a simple and straightforward indie-pop record. However, what makes it ascend is the lyricism and vocals of the lead singer, and the fact that the band members are just extremely talented musicians. I just saw them live for the first time and it made me appreciate them that much more; the bassist and lead guitarist especially.

Check this album out if you have an interest in indie-pop/twee at all and don't hesitate to see them live!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Piece of Pop Music June 17, 2012

By Raijer

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

An absolutely additive record. Charming without being precious, this band plays a type of pop music that is hard to resist. The guitars and rhythm are tight, the tones jangley and bright. Amber's wonderful vocals play and skip over everything with a fun, quick phrasing. Great stuff. Easily one of the best records I've heard this year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Intruiging debut album June 4, 2012

By Paul Allaer TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Hospitality is a trio hailing from Brooklyn, consisting of singer-songwriter Amber Paini along with Nathan Michel and Brian Betancourt. If you're not familiar with the band's sound, think Camera Obscuora done Brooklyn style.

"Hospitality" (10 tracks; 33 min.) brings a collection of beautifully crafted songs. Check out the opener "Eighth Avenue", one of the better songs on here (with lyrics like "I left my twenties/In bar rooms and bathroom halls/Past twenty two to forty and four/Eighth Avenue/We walked twenty blocks/Sat on the roof/Played spades and hearts"). The tone of the songs is mostly playful and quirky and plays very easy to the ears from the get-go. But there are a couple of more pensive tunes as well, such as on "Julie" and "Sleepover". Check out as well "Argonauts", at 5+ min. by far the longest song on the album, and very nice at that (check out the long instrumental outro).

In all, this is quite the intruiging debut album from Hospitality. Their touring schedule has been sporadic and I can only hope they will find a way to Cincinnati as I can't wait to see how these songs will resonate in a live setting. Meanwhile, if you are in the mood for some great indie music, by all means check out "Hospitality".

*UPDATE* (Sept. '12) I finally got to see Hospitality live at the MidPoint music festival here in Cincinnati, and the band (a foursome now) put on a fabulous set, playing many of this album's tracks, and a couple of new ones too. Just fantastic. If you have a chance to see Hospitality live, do not miss them!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of 2012 May 27, 2012

By T. A. Daniel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Hospitality's self-titled debut is one of the best albums of 2012 so far. HOSPITALITY is agreeable, but not compromising; breezy, but not hollow; smart, but not pretentious. The album is full of melodic, indie-guitar pop goodness; among these 10 tracks, there's not a dud in the whole bunch. Perfect for summer listening, these songs evoke moments spent with friends outside.

Most songs on HOSPITALITY are short, sweet, and always interesting. There doesn't seem to be a wasted moment or instrument on this album. While most songs are good within the first listen, repeat listening reveal all the care that has been poured over these pop songs. The instrumentation here is solid and intricate without the feel of studio trickery, and the vocals feel warm and lived-in but never worn out. Don't be surprised to see this on many "Best of 2012" lists.

This band is subtle -- it feels as if they grew up on Belle & Sebastian's IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER, and they wear this influence on their sleeves. Fans of the Velvet Underground, Telekinesis, the Zombies, the Shins, or Grizzly Bear will find a lot here to enjoy. Anyone who likes music will find something to like here. Recommended highlights for sampling: "Friends of Friends", "Eighth Avenue", and "Argonauts."