Every so often, a band releases their debut album, and you just know.
You know that they have a bright future ahead of them, filled with record deals, worldwide tours and, if they get lucky, a little trophy on the shelf. They become a band you know will climb the charts for years to come. This week, WGRE stumbled across one of those bands.
On Feb. 11, Hollow & Akimbo released their debut, self-titled album under Quite Scientific Records. The Ann Arbor, Mich. based band is made up of longtime friends Jon Visger, Brian Konicek and Mike Higgins.
Their chemistry is palpable from start to finish. On Facebook, they show a humble charm and sense of humor in all their posts on the Hollow & Akimbo fan page. They like to hang out and have fun. Their upbeat attitude and psychedelic licks should crank them up the charts as they groove away into some sort of dance-rock-pop history.
Hollow & Akimbo hit the scene in 2012 and released their debut EP "Psuedoscience" in October 2013. By January, they released a five track single entitled "Singularity," featuring remixes by Com Truise, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Osborne. By February, the full length debut was released. This band has been putting in the work for stardom, and I believe they will get there.
The album begins with "Trunk of a Dead Tree," a song about heartbreak, which is a common motif throughout the album. Lead singer Visger belts out melancholic lyrics while the bass line rides the sound waves to the chorus.
The next song, "Singularity," begins with ominous organs until the major guitar riff comes in with funk-punk drums.
Visger's range is incredible, sounding like Lexy Benaim of the Harlem Shakes in one song and Michael Milosh of Rhye in the next. Hollow & Akimbo joins electro-pop to rock with hints of several other influences. "Lucky Stars" comes in acting like a jazz tune backed with syncopated beats from Mike Higgins.
Each song represents another part of the journey of a lost relationship filled with deceit, but it's hard to be sad because the tracks are just too cool.
Hollow & Akimbo is new to the business, but they don't act like it. Their debut was written, recorded and mastered entirely by the three-man band. An album like this doesn't come around every day. I hope it is the first of many albums to come.
Looking back to artists like The Strokes, The White Stripes and Beck, each artist's first album was a hit. As they continued making music, they only got better. Hollow & Akimbo feels like that. This album is an indication of a beautiful future for indie rock music.
WGRE works hard to bring you the best new music every week. This week, Hollow & Akimbo grasped our attention. Throughout the semester, Music Director Lauren Wigton and I will be searching for the best new music for your enjoyment on WGRE. Be sure to tune into our New Music Preview Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. New music comes out every day; we can help you find it.
-Austin is the assistant director of music at WGRE.