My Favorite New Band, introducing “Say Hi to Your Mom”

By Michael Lundberg | June 2, 2007

Album Cover Art Thursday night I downloaded an album from a band that I had never heard of, “Say Hi to Your Mom”. Call me strange, but I’m a sucker for bands with odd names and “Say Hi to Your Mom” definitely fits the bill. I never would have found a band like this if it wasn’t for the wonder of iTunes. The ability to play song clips while browsing is priceless, especially for someone like me who is constantly looking for his next musical fix. To be honest, I can’t even remember how I came across this band. I usually troll through the alternative or electronic music sections, often stopping at the new releases, or hot indie rock sections. The iTunes artist page for “Say Hi to Your Mom” doesn’t list a bio like most other bands even though they had four albums available. Mmm. My interest is slightly piqued. All of their albums have titles as equally as bizarre as the band name (for example, “Ferocious Mope”, “Numbers & Mumbles”, need I go on?). Ok, I’m a little more interested. I browse their latest album, “Impeccable Blahs”. The iTunes description explains:

“New York indie rocker Say Hi to Your Mom’s fourth record since 2002’s Discosadness is pink, ten songs long, and all about “every day vampires.”

Ok, now I’m really interested. Suffice to say, I purchased the album and find myself very pleased.

How do you describe an electro-fused low-fi album about vampires? Well, just like that, really. The album feels like it could be the Postal Service’s cousin, if his parents were The Strokes and Weezer, but that doesn’t really do it justice. Some standouts from the album include “Sweet Sweet Heartkiller,” which I think I’ve heard on Sirius’ Left of Center, but I can’t be totally sure. This song could easily be at home on a Cars album and at first listen sounds like the most upbeat of the song of the entire album, until you listen closely to the lyrics:

“And everything’s good

and everything’s fine

and everything’s bitter like sweet things should be,

when I’m sinking my teeth into her:

my sweet heartkiller”

One of the most understated songs of the album and my personal favorite is “She Just Happens to Date the Prince of Darkness.” The song is slow and eerie and sounds more like it’s about a lover scorned than vampires. Being one doesn’t mean that you can’t be the other as well and maybe that’s the song’s point:

“[She] has a blog where she predicts brand new indie rock hits.

And she’s normal and shy like the rest of us,

She just happens to date the prince of darkness.

But enough about him,

It’s her you should keep an eye on.”

As quirky as this band may be, everything comes together to create a great record of vampire, robot space-rock. After I burn up this album, I’ll venture into their other albums and with song titles like “Yeah, I’m In Love With an Android and “But She Beat My Highscore,” I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

I’ve put the lyrics to “Impeccable Blahs” in my Box, which you can find here. Also there are 3 full songs (mp3 format, yeah!) available from each album on their website.

You can read more interesting stuff about “Say Hi to Your Mom” at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Hi_To_Your_Mom and

http://somethingglorious.typepad.com/somethingglorious/2006/08/interview_say_h.html

Topics: Music |

One Response to “My Favorite New Band, introducing “Say Hi to Your Mom””

Finally an Update | www.michaellundberg.com Says:
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
[…] just called, “Say Hi.” I’ve written about this great and little know band in the past. Say Hi is playing in Houston on October 24th. More about the show […]

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