"The Sound the Hare Heard" (Kill Rock Stars)
By Jared Brownell
Thursday. May 11, 12:46 AM
A sublime mix for a hazy weekend morning or listless evening.

The Sound the Hare Heard is the latest compilation from the Kill Rock Stars roster, chock full of mellow singer/songwriters. The good majority of this album is performed by solo artists, which gives the whole thing a minimal but beautifully crafted sound. Going into it, I can’t say I’ve heard of many of the names (save for Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy), but after a few listens it will leave you craving to hear more from them.

One such artist is Lauren Hoffman’s "Another Song About the Darkness.” With the opening line of “well you don’t fit in, thank God,” she leads you straight into a world of cold isolation and alienation contrasted with a fervent, almost hopeful chorus. Definitely a song you can put on repeat forever and not get tired of.

Another standout is Nedelle. Her innocent voice overlying a rolling piano melody in "Poor Little City Boy" will give you the chills. It’s a tale about growing as a person after being thrown into an unfamiliar environment, explored in the line “ooh no – don’t tell me what comes next – let me make up the rest.” It’s quite a beautiful juxtaposition of having your eyes opened wide vs. fabricating an alternate reality.

Overall, The Sound the Hare Heard is a sublime mix: a strong set of songs interspersed with several highlights. And weighing in at 21 tracks, it is a perfect fit for a hazy weekend morning or listless evening. So if you usually find yourself enjoying the mellow, introspective, and occasionally depressing songs on an album, The Sound the Hare Heard is definitely for you.
www.killrockstars.com

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Jared Brownell

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