Ha Ha Tonka: Death Of A Decade

Ha Ha Tonka
Death Of A Decade
Bloodshot Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: Missouri band Ha Ha Tonka return with a catchy and carefree third LP in Death Of A Decade.

Album Review:
Ha Ha Tonka's third LP, Death Of A Decade, is a nice carefree Southern rock record that has plenty of gorgeous four part vocal harmonies and intricate mandolin lines running through the entire album. The band sounds completely at ease, as this record is full of upbeat numbers that keep the album hopping. Ha Ha Tonka have an ability to build a song up gradually, like on the soaring "Jesusita" that has stupendous peaks as the entire band interlocks its vocals but then can let the song drop to a simmer on a whim. This pattern works its way through the album, which also sometimes has diminishing returns because as you move into the second half, several songs have similar sounds and never really separate themselves out. That is not to say that Death Of A Decade is not enjoyable but to maximize their talent, Ha Ha Tonka really need to push their boundaries. If they don't, the band will never propel to the level one should expect because as evidenced by the elicited singing along at different points in the record, Ha Ha Tonka can write catchy tunes and have plenty of talent to offer.

Key Tracks: "Westward Bound", "Jesusita", "No Great Harm"

Bands With Simliar Fire:
The Moondoggies
Lucero
The Refreshments

Ha Ha Tonka: Novel Sounds Of The Nouveau South [Fire Note Review 6/17/09]

Ha Ha Tonka Website
Ha Ha Tonka MySpace
Ha Ha Tonka Facebook
Bloodshot Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony