Hellogoodbye - Everything Is Debatable (Album Review)
Monday, 28 October 2013
Written by Katie Vowles
You probably know Hellogoodbye best for their super-catchy hit Here (In Your Arms), which landed in the upper reaches of the charts upon its release back in 2006.
Taken from their first record, ‘Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!’, the single was the beginning and end of a love affair with the band for many. The common misconception is that Hellogoodbye went off the radar after its release, and that no-one’s really heard from them since.
Their sophomore album, ‘Would It Kill You?’, was in fact full of quirky acoustic melodies, hooks and beautiful lyrics. Two years later and the band are back again, with their third studio album, ‘Everything Is Debatable’, and a new sound altogether.
From the second that And Everything Becomes A Blur kicks in, it’s clear that this album isn’t coming from the Hellogoodbye of before. The unfamiliar, electronic-dominated instrumentation lays a foundation for Forrest Kline’s signature vocals, and, at this early stage, it doesn’t work.
Hellogoodbye’s first two albums both contained strong hooks throughout and original, unusual compositions – there were rarely dull moments to be found. But, on the whole here, that originality is hard to pin down. Swear You’re In Love is generic and forgettable, while An External Force’s sound effects are enough to provoke a cringe.
But, The Magic Hour brings some nostalgia to the table and a flashback to the past, in a very good way, and the title track possesses the strongest melody on display here, giving off sunny vibes. Just Don’t follows suit with its upbeat outlook.
The delicate, heartfelt piano of I Don’t Worry (As Much As I Should) also harks back to their older days until an electro beat kicks in, adding a fresh touch to Hellogoodbye’s original sound in a more successful example of genre hopping.
It’s clear that Hellogoodbye have matured, and Tracks like Die Young, Die Dumb and Not Soon are examples of how their new sound can work brilliantly, but the substantial electronic influences will likely alienate some existing fans. ‘Everything Is Debatable’ is a solid effort, but expectations were high for a band that has delivered in the past.
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