That album arrived as a self-titled rebirth LP, and it's got everything. Weird lyrics about lions. Campy female backing vocals. Strings played just well enough to keep on the track. At first it feels like a bit much, like having too much candy, but then a record starts to emerge. After all the basement recordings, HJFB know what they are doing. Even though they've moved up to a proper studio, they didn't let the songs get too polished.
Each song is really unique, especially "I Have to Speak with Rocky Balboa" and the amazing fuzz pop of "D-R-E-A-M-I-N." Luke Csehak's vocals are full of nervous energy, and he cracks at just the right spots as he leads his gang of misfits from one trip into another. It's well rehearsed, but very fresh and different than what you usually hear. Some of it is pretty challenging, but if it didn't shimmer with folky pop and the melodies weren't so memorable, it might not work. Take "Can't You Hear Me Ticking" or "Do You Want Me" with its soft horn accompanying the questions. Both choruses are hard left turns, full of surprise. The layers of instruments can sometimes be overwhelming, but there's definitely a method to the madness.
The wisely sequenced album closes with one of my favorite songs of the year, "I Don't Wanna Dance Tonight." It's happy and sad at the same time. Willful indifference becomes a satisfying scream. After it fades away into a strangely repetitive harpsichord, you'll want to play it again. Listener beware when working backwards with Happy Jawbone's catalog, but this LP is a gem.
