Hospitality: Hospitality

Hospitality
Hospitality
Merge Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Brooklyn trio Hospitality offer up a stylish indie pop debut.

Album Review:
Hospitality are a superbly rich sounding trio out of Brooklyn that just released their debut of sophisticated indie pop on Merge Records. The band is led by the likable Amber Papini that delivers her focused lyrics with a wisp of an English accent via Kansas City as she credits hours of practice imitating Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs.

Her carefree attitude instantly hooks the listener here as the intelligent music arrangements and solid playing from the band helps make the album opener "Eighth Avenue" an instant favorite as it bounces along. It is this upbeat vocal delivery and confidence that makes Hospitality a success.

What I really like about Hospitality is that the trio never seems to try too hard to make good music as it just comes naturally. There is nothing earth shattering new here but with the production of Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells) and band member Nathan Michel, Hospitality stay fresh and grounded while coming up with perfect pop nuggets like the under 2 minute rocker "The Right Profession" and the excellent slower swaying "Sleepover". These tunes all have a timeless appeal to them and sound even better when you play them again!

Key Tracks: "Eighth Avenue", "The Right Profession", "Sleepover"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Belle & Sebastian
Echobelly
Stereolab

Hospitality Website
Hospitality Facebook
Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony