Hillside 9 offers eclectic blend with ‘Come Holy Water’
“Come Holy Water” is the first release for local band Hillside 9. The album offers an enticing blend of styles and rhythms.
Overall, the CD comes across as a unique mixture of lyrical moments and melodic undertones. The sound is a combination of Dave Matthews, U2 and John Mellencamp – pureed into a new, crisp sound which has been lacking from the college music scene.
The first track on the album offers a strong introduction to the music to follow. Down is not the standard college band sound. It embodies the studio sound mostly achieved by big bands.
Rainbow Leather begins with a Goo Goo Dollsesque sound which dissolves into a more classic feel. A line from the song sums up the entire album in many ways, “music’s in your heart but can you feel the beat?” This CD is good music, the question remains if people will listen.
Following the two up-tempo leads, the third song slows down a bit. Drive really became my favorite song on the album. I really can’t tell you why, I suppose it spoke to me more than the others. But then again, that is what good music does. I have to admit, it is the perfect break-up song. A cocktail of despair with a tinge of hope – “maybe I could fly when there’s nowhere left to drive.”
Both Drive and Broadway Street showcase one of the more unique parts of Hillside 9’s sound – the use of a violin in rock music. The mellow sound of strings offers a new perspective in an industry overshadowed by grunge and acid guitar. Don’t get me wrong, this is not classical music, it is solid rock ‘n’ roll with a new attitude.
Midnight on Sunday offers a nice opposite to the rest of the songs on this release. Simple. Melodic. This is a nice rest from the rest of the album. A beautifully crafted piece of music.
Mango is perhaps the song which would be nominated as the song “most-likely to get airplay on college radio.” It is driven and heavy with underlying bass and drums. This is just the song that would explode on the scene at a college party.
In contrast, Someday With You has a country feel to it. Not that this is bad, because it is not full-on country, more of a dark, smoky basement club type of song. It is this very diversity in style and sound which makes this CD what it is.
Toast ‘n Jam is the most deceptive song. A mellow calm with an unseen undertow waiting to swallow listeners into a vortex of rifts and drums, only to release them and then grab them again. The steady pulse drives the song and keeps things interesting. This is a great song and it is a shame it was buried in the No. 10 spot on the CD.
All of the songs are solid representations of the alternative rock movement. Jon Palmer’s vocals lend themselves well to this style and make them easy to listen to.
Overall this is a great CD worthy of a listen.