Happy Hollow (album)

Last updated
Happy Hollow
HappyHollow.jpg
Studio album by
Cursive
ReleasedAugust 22, 2006
Genre Indie rock
Length45:26
Label Saddle Creek
Producer Tim Kasher and Mike Mogis
Cursive chronology
The Difference Between Houses and Homes
(2005)		Happy Hollow
(2006)		 Mama, I'm Swollen
(2009)

Happy Hollow is the fifth album by the American indie rock band Cursive. It was released on August 22, 2006, on Saddle Creek Records. Saddle Creek Records began shipping pre-orders on August 8, 2006. The album is named after a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska.

Contents

The album is the first since the departure of cellist Gretta Cohn [1] whose instrumentation was a fixture of the band's 2003 release The Ugly Organ . The album features significant five-piece horn arrangements courtesy of Nate Walcott. [2]

The lyrics of Happy Hollow form a concept album of sorts, revolving around a small town and its inhabitants, and dealing with concepts such as religious dogma and hypocrisy.

Concept

The album revolves around a small, upper class, God-fearing town of the same name (the name Happy Hollow coming from the affluent Omaha, NE neighborhood surrounding Happy Hollow Blvd). Each track in the album tells a different story of faults that the inhabitants of Happy Hollow portray that seem at odds with the town's "perfect" image. The final track, "Hymns for the Heathen," is an afterword of the album, describing the concepts explored in each of the 14 tracks.

The album has many biblical references, reflecting on Kasher's Catholic upbringing.

Release

On May 22, 2006, the album's track listing was posted online. [3] Four songs from the forthcoming album were posted on the band's Myspace profile on June 29, 2006. [4] In July 2006, the band went on a headlining tour of the US, with support from Make Believe and LaSalle. [5] [6] "Dorothy at Forty" was released as a single on July 11, 2006; it included the non-album tracks "The Bitter End" and "The Censor". [7] [8] The music video for "Dorothy at Forty" was posted online on August 3, 2006. [9] On August 21, 2006, Happy Hollow was made available for streaming through their Myspace, prior to its release the following day through Saddle Creek Records. [10] In September 2006, the band went on a tour of Japan with the Velvet Teen. [11] Following this, they toured across the US until November 2006, with support from the Thermals, Ladyfinger, Detachment Kit, Chin Up Chin Up, Eastern Youth, the Cops, and Jeremy Enigk. [12] [13] [14] On March 6, 2007, the music video "Big Bang" was posted online. [15] In May 2007, Cursive supported Against Me! and Mastodon on their co-headlining US tour. [16] In October 2007, the band announced that drummer Clint Schnase had left the band to focus on his family. [17] On November 27, 2007, a music video was released for "Bad Sects". [18] In early 2008, the band appeared at the Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco, California. [19] In April 2008, the band went on a tour with Capgun Coup; the trek included performances at Not Brooklyn Fest and Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival. [20] [21]

This album came with a download code to download the songs in mp3 format directly from Saddle Creek Records. Pre-orders of the album came with a miniature license plate that had a code to download a bonus track entitled "No News Is Bad News".

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 78/100 [22]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk (90%) [23]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [24]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [25]
ARTISTdirect Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [26]
Filter (87%) [27]
Pitchfork (6.7/10) [28]
Under the Radar (7/10) [29]

Punknews.org ranked the album at number 17 on their list of the year's 20 best releases. [30]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Opening the Hymnal / Babies"2:32
2."Dorothy at Forty"3:02
3."Big Bang"3:56
4."Bad Sects"3:39
5."Flag and Family"2:56
6."Dorothy Dreams of Tornadoes"2:54
7."Retreat!"3:57
8."The Sunks"2:53
9."At Conception"2:57
10."So-So Gigolo"3:43
11."Bad Science"2:40
12."Into the Fold"4:16
13."Rise Up! Rise Up!"3:22
14."Hymns for the Heathen"2:39
Pre-order Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
15."No News Is Bad News"2:08

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cursive (band)</span> American indie rock band

Cursive is an American indie rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. Stylistically described as emo and post-hardcore, Cursive came to prominence with 2000's Domestica and found commercial and critical success with 2003's The Ugly Organ. The band has released eight studio albums, a compilations album, and a mix of singles and EPs since 1997. They have released recordings on several labels, including 15 Passenger Records, Saddle Creek Records, and Big Scary Monsters (UK).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Kasher</span> American musician

Timothy J. Kasher is an American musician from Omaha, Nebraska, and is the frontman of indie rock groups Cursive and the Good Life, both of which are on the Omaha-based record label Saddle Creek Records.

<i>The Fuse</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Pennywise

The Fuse is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band Pennywise. It was released on August 9, 2005.

<i>Were Not Happy til Youre Not Happy</i> 2005 studio album by Reel Big Fish

We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy is the fifth studio album by ska punk band Reel Big Fish. It was released on April 5, 2005 on Mojo Records to mixed reviews.

<i>Wolves in Wolves Clothing</i> 2006 studio album by NOFX

Wolves in Wolves' Clothing is the tenth studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX. At 46 minutes, this is NOFX's longest studio album.

<i>If Only You Were Lonely</i> 2006 studio album by Hawthorne Heights

If Only You Were Lonely is the second studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights and the final album to feature rhythm guitarist and unclean backing vocalist Casey Calvert before his death on November 24, 2007. It was produced by David Bendeth. The title of the album is in reference to a B-side by The Replacements of the same name.

<i>Oh! Calcutta!</i> (The Lawrence Arms album) 2006 studio album by The Lawrence Arms

Oh! Calcutta! is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band the Lawrence Arms, released in 2006 by Fat Wreck Chords. It is the band's third and last studio album to be released on Fat Wreck Chords. Brendan Kelly has stated that this is his favorite Lawrence Arms album. Punknews named this album the #1 album of 2000-2009.

<i>Resolve</i> (Lagwagon album) 2005 studio album by Lagwagon

Resolve is Lagwagon's seventh studio album, released in 2005. It is inspired by and dedicated to former Lagwagon drummer Derrick Plourde who died by suicide on March 30, 2005. All of the songs were written shortly after that event. Resolve was Lagwagon's last studio album to feature longtime bassist Jesse Buglione, who left the band in 2010.

<i>The Ugly Organ</i> 2003 studio album by Cursive

The Ugly Organ is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cursive, released on March 4, 2003, through Saddle Creek Records. It was released both on black and translucent green 180 gram vinyl.

<i>The Gold Record</i> 2006 studio album by the Bouncing Souls

The Gold Record is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band the Bouncing Souls and was released on June 6, 2006. The band deemed this release to be 'the release of the beast' in reference to the date (6/6/06) being similar to the number of the beast (666).

<i>...And the Battle Begun</i> 2006 studio album by Rx Bandits

...And the Battle Begun is an album by the Rx Bandits. It is the band's first album released by Matt Embree's label Mash Down Babylon. The album was released in stores on October 10, 2006, but was first made available in late June both directly from the band whilst on their 2006 summer tour and online via their website.

<i>Dead FM</i> 2006 studio album by Strike Anywhere

Dead FM is the third studio album by Strike Anywhere.

<i>The Walking Wounded</i> 2007 studio album by Bayside

The Walking Wounded is the third studio album by American rock band Bayside.

<i>Dont You Fake It</i> 2006 studio album by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Don't You Fake It is the debut studio album by American rock band the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The title is taken from a line in the opening track, "In Fate's Hands". The album garnered mixed reviews from critics. Don't You Fake It debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and spawned three singles: "Face Down", "False Pretense" and "Your Guardian Angel". To promote the record, the band toured across North America with appearances at music festivals.

<i>Lights Out</i> (Sugarcult album) 2006 studio album by Sugarcult

Lights Out is the third and final studio album by American rock band Sugarcult, released on September 12, 2006 by V2 Records.

<i>New Maps of Hell</i> (Bad Religion album) 2007 studio album by Bad Religion

New Maps of Hell is the fourteenth studio album by Bad Religion, released on July 10, 2007.

<i>Blackhawks Over Los Angeles</i> 2007 studio album by Strung Out

Blackhawks Over Los Angeles is the sixth studio album by Strung Out, released by Fat Wreck Chords on June 12, 2007.

<i>Help Wanted Nights</i> 2007 studio album by The Good Life

Help Wanted Nights is the fourth album by the Omaha-based band The Good Life, released on September 11, 2007 on Saddle Creek Records. Currently, frontman Tim Kasher has moved to Los Angeles and has written a screenplay entitled Help Wanted Nights. He has stated that the screenplay acts as a 'counterpart' to the album:

I tried to have the songs be less storytelling, and less narrative...since I was writing this fictionalized counterpart to this thing, I kind of liked the idea of writing songs to [exist] more as ideas that complement something else that was written. I tried to focus less on narrative and more on those big ideas.

Over It was a rock band based in Orange County, California. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, the band formed in 1998 to play pop punk. Most recently signed to Virgin Records, Over It is currently unsigned and inactive.

<i>Mama, Im Swollen</i> 2009 studio album by Cursive

Mama, I'm Swollen is the sixth studio album by the American indie rock band Cursive, on Saddle Creek Records. It was released on March 1, 2009 digitally, March 10 on CD, and was released on LP on May 19, 2009. The entire album was played through as a preview at Subterranean in Chicago on June 27, 2008. On February 24, 2009 the band released "From the Hips" on their website.

References

  1. ↑ Cellist Gretta Cohn leaves Cursive
  2. ↑ Cursive talks about upcoming full length
  3. ↑ Paul, Aubin (May 22, 2006). "Cursive details release". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ Paul, Aubin (June 29, 2006). "Cursive posts four new tracks". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  5. ↑ Paul, Aubin (May 14, 2006). "Cursive on the road in July". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  6. ↑ August, Justin (June 29, 2006). "LaSalle added to Cursive's July tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ Paul, Aubin (June 3, 2006). "Cursive detail first single". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Dorothy at Forty - Cursive / Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ Paul, Aubin (August 3, 2006). "Cursive debuts 'Dorothy at Forty' video". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ Reinecker, Meg (August 21, 2006). "Cursive post 'Happy Hollow' stream". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  11. ↑ Paul, Aubin (July 20, 2006). "Stream the new record from the Velvet Teen". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ Shultz, Brian (August 13, 2006). "Cursive announces U.S. tour dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ Paul, Aubin (August 18, 2006). "Cursive / The Thermals / Detachment Kit / Eastern Youth". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  14. ↑ Paul, Aubin (September 28, 2006). "Jeremy Enigk to tour with Cursive". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  15. ↑ Paul, Aubin (March 6, 2007). "Cursive premieres 'Big Bang' video". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  16. ↑ Paul, Aubin (March 6, 2007). "Against Me! / Mastodon / Cursive / (Planes Mistaken for Stars, These Arms Are Snakes)". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  17. ↑ Paul, Aubin (October 22, 2007). "Cursive loses drummer, adopts Cornbread Compton". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  18. ↑ Paul, Aubin (November 27, 2007). "Cursive: 'Bad Sects'". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ "San Francisco festival reveals lineup". NME. November 20, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  20. ↑ Raub, Jesse (February 18, 2008). "Not Brooklyn Fest featuring Cursive, Dead Meadow, Neil Hamburger and more". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ Paul, Aubin (March 13, 2008). "Cursive / Capgun Coup". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Happy Hollow by Cursive". Metacritic . Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  23. ↑ AbsolutePunk review
  24. ↑ Happy Hollow at AllMusic
  25. ↑ Alternative Press No. 218
  26. ↑ "ARTISTdirect review". Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2006-09-07.
  27. ↑ Filter Magazine No. 21
  28. ↑ Pitchfork review of Happy Hollow by Cursive on August 23, 2006 by Sam Ubl
  29. ↑ Under the Radar No. 14
  30. ↑ Shultz, Brian (January 1, 2007). "Best of 2006: Punknews.org (2006)". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 21, 2022.


Gnome-dev-cdrom-audio.svg

This 2000s indie rock album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.