CD review: Hollis Brown, Self-titled (Vibe Theory Music)
By Adam Baer
“Show Love”, the opening track to the debut of Queens, NY, foursome Hollis Brown displays the type of pop/rock hook that can turn heads. Just don’t turn too quickly or you’ll miss the good stuff. It’s easy to be fooled by the borderline bubble gum of “Show Love”, but it’s when the bubble bursts that you realize that these boys have some sawdust and whiskey pumpin’ through their veins. Take part Old 97’s, mix with a splash of Drive-By Truckers and garnish with a pinch of Exile-era Stones and you’ve got a helluva cocktail of bar band noise.
Guitarist/vocalist Mike Montali has a voice that inevitably will garner comparisons to train singer Pat Monahan, which is fine on the tunes that lean more towards the bluesy rock side of Hollis Brown’s sound. The sleazy boogie Montali and lead guitarist Jon Bonilla whip up on “Walk On Water” is a delight that would work in an arena or a barn. “Completed Fool” shows off the band’s chops with a combo of great riff work and boot-stomp rhythm provided by bassist Michael Wosczyk and drummer Mike Graves. It’s the kind of homegrown gem that would make Tom Petty look at the Black Crowes and ask: “Did you write that, or did I?”.
As far as the ballads go, only the electric waltz “Carolina, Caroline”, (which sounds a lot like Bob Dylan’s “Corrina, Corrina”), and the blues confession “Don’t Wanna Miss You”, with its yearning vocal and gospel-from-the-crossroads guitar really hit home. “No More Nights”, with its haunting slide guitar, which is nice, and sappy lines, which are bad: “Tryin’ to turn around the frown / It’s easier when you’re my crown” , show a polished band simply trying too hard.
By no means is this debut flawless, but it damn sure is fun. Even the other pop nugget “Passin’ Me By” will have your foot tappin’, and singing along to its “Na na na” ending. That’s the appeal of Hollis Brown: it doesn’t take gum on your boot for these guys to stick with you. Just have a seat, slow the sawdust off the table and wait for the noise.
