Devils – Say Hi Devils – Say Hi (Download / Purchase)

The one-man music machine Eric Elbogen has done it once again with the impeccable 7th Say Hi (@ericelbogen) album Um, Uh Oh released in late January of this year. The Seattle-based singer/songwriter is the talent behind all the vocals, guitars, and supporting instruments on this latest Say Hi album. He tweeted humbly to a fan that inquired about his home recording setup:

@ericelbogen: “@fergusjones yep. in my bedroom. apogee ensemble –> logic. but also a bunch of outboard pre’s, comps and eq’s.”

Cheers to all the audio whizzes who know what that even means, but I can only speak for my discerning ears when I say the recordings sound spectacular.

The record is comprised of a dozen no-frills alternative rock tunes, each one as unfettered as it is perfectly calculated. None last longer than 2 1/2- 3 ½ minutes, keeping them completely on-point. After one complete listen-through it was so easy to recognize and hum along to practically each one already! There’s a dark edge to many of them, making a few like “Devils,” “Sister Needs a Settle,” and “My, How It Comes” downright soulful jams! Alongside those live some more wistful and upbeat indie tracks like “Dots On Maps” and “Bruises to Prove It.” Elbogen surely worked hard to find the perfect stylistic balance between all twelve songs, an endeavor in which he clearly succeeded.

The album’s key elements bring to mind a strange amalgam of simple bluesy rock like The Black Keys, deep driving vocals similar to Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, hints of Wilco and Ryan Adams, all working with lyrical emotions not unlike Thieving Irons. Even with a plethora of styles to which it could compare, Eric Elbogen and Say Hi have cultivated a sonic concoction that lives in a unique realm all its own.