I’ll admit that I haven’t really kept up to date with Houndmouth since their debut 2013 album, From the Hills Below the City, which had the song “Penitentiary,” which played at every high school party I ever attended in good Ol’ Alberta.
For me, the group just rode the fine line of the hey-ho rock of someone like The Lumineers, whom I despise, and Dr. Dog, whom I love.
Houndmouth has always had more grit in their take on Americana rock. So, on a whim, I decided to check out this latest one, Lordy, which marks the Indiana alt country/ folk rock group’s fifth album. From the opener “Hard Being Lovers,” I was taken with the raw and rootsy vocals of Matt Myers over a soft acoustic guitar. The song eventually explodes into a subdued chorus and indie rock lead. “Tiger’s Blood” continues the same build, Myers’ voice on the point of cracking, like a piece of beat-up leather left in the sun. We do get some call and response vocals ala hey-ho, but again, more grit so I don’t mind them.
“Rodeo” is probably the straightest outlaw country Houdmouth has ever sounded, filled with lap steel guitar and songs about attending the rodeo in a dusty town. Real cowboy shit. “Heavy Eyes” also sounds like it was torn out of the country songbook, but then we get the jumpy “Varmints,” which shifts the tone a bit. The title track feels a bit listless, but overall, if you like Americana, Lordy will be a good time.
