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Once in a while out of nowhere, I’ll come across an album that will catch me completely by surprise. One that leaves me with the same feeling of unanticipated triumph and satisfaction I get after finding $20 in a forgotten pocket. After having no preconceived notion of what was to come, Hospital Bombers’ Footnotes left me with that exact feeling.

Put quite simply, Hospital Bombers write charming folk-pop songs that sound like they were recorded in your friend’s basement. What makes this band stand out to me, aside from their clever songs and simple but effective hooks, is the relaxed attitude they seem to have. This is made most apparent in the album’s fourth track, “The Devil’s Music,” where the lyrics of which sound a lot like a concerned parent warning their child about the evils of the music Hospital Bombers are making.

Cuteness aside, though, Footnotes is a whole lot of fun. The guitar and bass are used mostly to fill out the soundscape leaving the violin and organ tag-teaming the melody department, taking turns as the focus from song to song. Drumming is kept very simple but also very appropriate and plays its role perfectly; there are no flashy fills or strange drum patterns here. Lyrically, the album is wonderfully simple. It’s not melodramatic or over the top and it doesn’t waste time trying to be overly artsy.

The words being sung are very straightforward and honest, as is the rest of the album in just about every aspect. Standout tracks include the obvious single (save the title) “Jackoff,” the charming “Punk’s Not Dead” and the near-flawless “Thunderstorm,” a song I’m pretty comfortable calling one of the best of last year.

In short, Footnotes is one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long time, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Amsterdam’s Hospital Bombers are going to come up with for their next album.



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    Posted by lifetime_ on 2009-03-02 00:07:20

    Jon: Sorry you didn't like it man. I liked that it was a laid back, not overly serious record, that's part of the reason it appealed to me.

    SuperRad: I don't listen to a lot of stuff like this so I'm having trouble thinking of a comparable band. It's just a lot of fun, they've got some songs up on their MySpace page to check out if you like.

    www.myspace.com/hospitalbombersatmyspace

    Posted by CCSummers on 2009-03-01 17:03:43

    yeah d00d. organs aren't allowed in folk. god.

    Posted by JonDreamy on 2009-03-01 16:15:31

    DL'd it and wasn't into it. I did so because I saw "folk" and thought it might be worth checking out since you liked it. Found the dude's voice annoying. That "The Devil's Music" song has lyrics like crap 90's ska, don't write songs about yourself. Plus, wtf's an organ doing on a folk record? Song title's suck too. Folk's best when it's personal. Bands like these shouldn't sing about cliche bullshit 'cause it's fucking boring. Didn't sound like it was recorded in a basement either. Not raw music.

    Posted by greg0rb on 2009-02-28 14:36:54

    "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton" off of All Hail West Texas. Favorite MG song ever.

    Posted by mattramone on 2009-02-28 11:37:38

    Mountain Goats?

    Posted by greg0rb on 2009-02-28 10:21:12

    yousurewearpantsalot, you beat me to it! Sounds like the band plays in a style that could have taken their name from a Mountain Goats song...don't think The Killers did though.

    Posted by SuperRad on 2009-02-28 09:28:54

    Good review, simple, like the record's described. Kind of makes me want to check it out. Compare them to another band for me.

    Posted by yousurewearpantsalot on 2009-02-28 02:49:50

    hospital bombers? i like satans fingers better