I've been listening to a lot of synth alternative this year and there's always room for great Americana folk rock. Not sure how else to describe the sound of Ha Ha Tonka. They're not as folky as The Lumineers and they're not as root rock as Lucero. Their sound is somewhere in the middle and possibly why they haven't enjoyed the success of some of those other bands. It's actually rather sad knowing how good these guys are.
Buckle In The Bible Belt was their first album and I remember how much their song "Up Nights" sounded like Lucero. Trust me, that's a great thing. It sounded so polished. This little band from Springfield, Missouri really mixes up great song writing skills with a soulful backbone.
Now, I want to talk about their new album Lessons. I think it's their best album thus far. It shows growth and maturity from a band that's been through the ringer. Death of a Decade which was their previous work put out in 2011 felt more rushed and disconnected. Something about Lessons really resonates with me.
I think I've listened to the song "The Past Has Arms" at least a dozen times in the past week. I guess it's a personal thing because I relate to the words. "I know that the past has arms, because I feel it hold me tight." It's a simple statement but it rings so true for this moment in my life.
The rest of the album has nice highs and lows. It's an album that's rich in sound and fully realized. The kind you throw in and it takes you through a nice journey. "Dead to the World" and "Rewrite Our Lives" are two of the other standout songs from this album. Both songs are so brilliant in the lyrics and the music doesn't fall far behind. Again, the band seems to be tackling their past in the lyrics. When Brian Roberts sings, "I got more past now, than future in front of me, I wish we could rewrite our lives," that's one clear vision of what it means to get old.
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