REVIEW: The Hollowbodies, Viva La Dregs (Polydor/A&M)
- Bill Holmes
On their second major label release the trio has raised the bar another notch. Viva La Dregs combines the melodic sophistication of bands like Semisonic and the late great Caulfields with the stripped down approach of a bar band fighting its way out of the garage.
Songwriter Philip Roebuck spouts some complex and obtuse lyrics; perhaps those Dylan roots are most evident on the centerpiece "My Little Woman". However, his slight twang-drawl is just chameleon enough for the musical mood swings on the record, where the band ranges from delicate moods to a lean mean rockin machine. "Lakefly", "Underground" and the wonderfully titled "Ignoramus Spectaculus" are fist-pumping rockers with punkish energy, while "Plasticine Mesmerism" is acoustic flair and "Little King" features a falsetto chorus over jangling guitars. The best melody may have been saved for last - "Kodo And The Queensbound R" is beautiful. Someday I might even figure out what the lyrics mean.
Although the name may conjure up acoustic troubadours, it's impossible to pigeonhole this band into a musical category. Isn't that refreshing?
