Here is a really cool band from Minneapolis. Sounding like a rowdy, uber-macho version of the Barenaked Ladies, The Hard Left have a really good album on it’s hands. The opener, “Who’s she gonna turn to” is like a lost Smithereens tune. “Take it out on me” is a great song that really hits the aggressive Smithereens vibe. The rest of the album stays loud and fast – sometimes loses a bit of focus by the end, when they jam out a bit too much and start to morph into Southern Culture on The Skids on the songs “Lost Not Found” and “Sad, Soft and Sleepy”. Not that there is anything wrong with that – but guys, can I get a ballad in here to break things up? Utimately this is a really good EP consiting of eight hard rockin’ tracks. It’s even better if you’ve overdosed on caffine. You can listen to the whole thing streaming on the band’s site. You can buy it at NotLame.com and KoolKat Music
Hey Aaron…We really do appreciate your attention and kind words…and thanks again for giving us a plug.
All our best,
The Hard Left
Gotta go with Brian on the one. I know you’re coming from a good place, but comparing The Hard Left to Barenaked Ladies is way, way off.
Believe me – this is coming from someone that has seen nearly every live show they’ve done.
I would compare them to The Replacements, XTC, The
Plimsouls, and definitely, The Smithereens.
So my guess is you hate the Barenaked Ladies? I really didn’t mean to offend here, the BNL have good rep for melody and Brian, your voice does sound a bit like Steven Page. What’s off about the SCOTS comparison? The guitar twang, inflections and beat are all there. Who do you think you sound like? Sorry, I calls’em like I see’em.
Hey Aaron…While we really appreciate your (mostly) positive review, any comparisons to Barenaked Ladies have left us really scratching our heads…not to mention wanting to shoot ourselves. The SCOTS comparison, while immensely more favorable and desirable…is also a little off. If you listen to “Always Two” the 3rd track, you will find your “ballad”, or at least as close as we will probably ever come to actually recording one. Again, we do appreciate the review, but needed to address a couple points to insure that anyone/someone reading this will not dismiss our debut because of a misguided comparison.
Respectfully,
Brian Drake/The Hard Left