Los Angeles quartet, Humbug have fashioned a great debut album. In essence, Power Pop, but Aidan Cole's laconic vocal allows the band to stray into other areas such as Indie Rock, although the melody is never ever lost.
There is also a feel of the better part of 90s Guitar Pop bands. Weezer-ish maybe without ever sounding like that band. There is though a Slacker like quality at times and lyrically these are great story songs adding a really creditable depth.
The songs are splendidly arranged and performed, the whole band are locked in, but another special mention should be for Alex Cubillos's Guitar work. There are some stunning riffs and solos. Open Season is quite a debut.
There is also fine variety. Backlot jangles like a good 'un and I Know The Story starts wonderfully melancholic and then launches into great 80s Indie Pop with added harmonica. Enjoy The Movies gets all "Let's do the song right here", all streamy and foot tapping.
Yet, Nina is great urgent crunchy Power Pop and Galaga could be a 90s Sit Com theme, killer Guitar included. The band excel on the title track, a song that chops and changes at will, one of the best opening songs that you will hear all year, a song that sets the tone of what is to come.
You will have heard Barbara Says on the Listening To This Week Playlist and it remains a wonderful listen, lyrically adept and beautifully played as the whole album is. Open Season is one of the strongest debuts that I have hears in a long time. Go Buy!
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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