Most album releases live and die around the blogosphere buzz they generate, so when Hostage Calm missed their July release date this summer, things looked grim. Now that their production issues have been resolved and their album is getting to see the light of day, it is becoming clear that Hostage Calm has released one of the best LPs in recent history.
In 2008, the band released Lens, a great melodic punk record. Drawing from hardcore punk forefathers such as Gorilla Biscuits and D.C.’s own Dag Nasty, Hostage Calm developed a sound that is raw and sincere yet refined and smart. Though Lens did not see major success, the record did attract the attention of Boston’s Run For Cover Records, an independent label with major scene influence and an impressive roster of up-and-coming bands. With this latest LP, I doubt this band can or will go unnoticed for much longer.
Hostage Calm marks a shift in the band’s sound from melodic punk music to more accessible indie pop, and the result is refreshing. It is clear that the band spent more hours in the studio, as they experiment with new instrumentation and tonalities, reaching far beyond the spectrum of punk rock.
Hostage Calm’s diverse influences shine through on each track, too, as they pay respects to bands like The Smiths and The Cure. When the band applies their impressive musicianship to the punk rock paradigm, the result is explosive. On “Ballots/Stones,” the band lays down an insatiable dance groove, while “Wither on the Vine” is a full-blown tango, blossoming into a lush Britpop chorus. “Victory Lap” has a more straightforward punk, four-on-the-floor sound with a ‘60s surf-rock vibe. The music is creatively composed and constantly evolving with each measure.
The vocals really set this record apart, and are layered into a golden wall of sound, drenched with Pet Sounds vibes. The lyrics are intellectual and honest, exploring with the vulnerability of adolescence without being cheesy. Singer Chris Martin croons on “Jerry Rumspringer,” “ I want to know where all the summers go/Do they pack up and leave when you turn 23?”
Still young themselves, Hostage Calm has already shown great maturity in their ability to shift their sound and experiment with new styles. So while the lyrics on Hostage Calm nail the identity crisis of growing up perfectly, the overall quality of the album proves that this is a band that has come into its own.