Review Summary: I am aware that this was an extensive review that went off on many tangents, but it’s because I cannot reiterate enough how great this band is. I enjoy all of Say Hi To Your Mom’s albums, but this one is the most innocent and the most natural. Eric fi
Seeing as this is Say Hi to Your Mom’s first album, and also that this is the first and only review of said album on this site, I have decided that this band needs a proper introduction.
Stumbling upon an album such as Discosadness is a rare treat. From its cheerfully adolescent cover artwork (and I do appreciate all aspects of an album), to the understated but never tiresome music, Discosadness helps reassure me that there is still inspired and personal music being created in the new millennium. Eric Elbogen, the sole performer on the album, has complete artistic control in every way; he also self-released the album. When these circumstances align, it promotes the best music in my opinion. Being a lifelong of Smashing Pumpkins (my favorite band, for whom yes, I would stand in front of any jury to confirm their importance), I recognize that sometimes a single musician’s ambitions, like Billy Corgan’s, can help shape music to its highest potential. Every song on this album has a stamp of Eric’s influences, ranging from bands he enjoys, to his own quirky pop-culture appreciation, and his apparent love of outer space and science-fiction, topics that reappear on his later albums as well. Utilizing minimal instrumentation, whisper-like vocals and clever lyrics and imagery, Discosadness is a triumphant album that includes all the aspects of Say Hi to Your Mom that a first time listener should seek out.
1. The Fritz – An upbeat, spacey and dare I say “fritzy” album opener. To me, this song is the one that coincides most with the album artwork, with its sparse electronic flourishes, and sells the idea that this album will have a unique feel to it. The guitar part and pace of the song reminds me of The Pixies, particularly the song, “The Happening.” This is noteworthy for several reasons. First of all, Eric has stated that he is a longtime fan of The Pixies, secondly, he mentions them in the closing track of his second album, and debatably in the song “Hooplas Involving Circus Tricks”, and lastly, the song “The Happening” features a chorus about aliens “Saying Hi”. A little independent research uncovers some interesting facts about the origins of the band. Maybe The Pixies are responsible for helping Eric come up with his band name. 3.5/5
2. They Write Books About This Sort of Thing – My favorite track on the album. It starts off with the single best guitar part on the entire album; soothing and yearning. The terrific lyrics are heartfelt without being sappy. Lines like “We could play some Pac-man and go to the library. We can order some pad-thai without the MSG” always elicit a slight smile. Toward the end, there is a simple but emotional guitar solo. Finally, the song ends in bliss with the same guitar part from the beginning, reminiscent of “Mayonaise” by Smashing Pumpkins. 5/5
3. Laundry – Probably the happiest and most laid-back song on the album, with fun, Barenaked Ladies-esque lyrics. 3.5/5
4. The Pimp and the Sparrow – One of the moodier songs that Eric whispers through in a style akin to Elliott Smith. Lyrically, this song plays out more like a short story, and while not my favorite song on the album, showcases his songwriting talents. I don’t know why, but he sometimes reminds me of Shel Silverstein. 4/5
5. Kill the Cat – This song always makes me smile and for some reason, always makes me think of Fritz the Cat. Who knows, maybe Eric thought of this as well. An acoustic sounding guitar guides the song along, with a memorable electronic melody playing over. Structurally, the song gets repetitive, but I still get a kick out of it. 4/5
6. Unless the Laker Game Was On – My second favorite song on the album. The song starts with a slow and sinister sounding electronic baseline, before Eric comes in singing the loudest on the album. Because he sings so quietly on most of the album, his vocals here really grab your attention and pull you into the song. The highlights of the song include references to Ghostbusters, Joe Versus the Volcano and bathing in orange soda. There isn’t really a chorus, but in between verses and at the end, there is a really cool strumming acoustic part that always gets me. There is also a really cool bridge toward the end with cool, low electronic sounds that, to me at least, recall old 1970’s John Carpenter film scores such as Assault on Precinct 13. Another reason I love this album overall is the fact that while it was released in 2002, it has a vintage feel to it. 5/5
7. Dersmormos – This might be my least favorite track on the album, but it’s still quite good. Parts of it sound like Blue Album-era Weezer and “The Sweater Song”. 3.5.5
8. Blizzard – My third favorite track on the album. This is most similar to the second track. The percussion, especially the neat sounding ride cymbal, stands out. In the chorus, Eric pours out the most emotion on the album with his singing, which immediately arrests the listener. During the bridge, an organ solo introduces a new sound not heard on the album. For low-fi pop, this is a powerful song. 4.5/5
9. Pintsized Midnight Moonbeam Workers – The shortest and only instrumental song. While not necessarily enjoyable to listen to, it definitely belongs on the record, in that it ties in themes that persist throughout the album, mainly the outer-space drug trip sound of it, aided by weird electronic bell sounds. This song does not detract from the album at all, but is not as strong as the others. 3/5
10. The Showdown in Goattown – The most traditional rock sounding of all the songs on the album, kicking off (no pun-intended) with a simple bass/snare/hi-hat drum beat that is soon joined in with a pleasant, optimistic guitar. Eric was born on the West Coast, and this song’s chorus asks “Are we ever gonna get back to California?” This is a great driving song, perfect for any road trip. One of my favorite electronic melodies on the album comes in at the end of the song, completing the album on a hopeful note.
