King Hannah albums

2024

Big Swimmer - 92%

Big Swimmer is one of the more underrated albums of the year, for many reasons. I have seen it get many glowing reviews, which is a shame because it is perfect at what it does. I look at the list of genres this album incorporates, and it doesn't surprise me as it's quite all over the place. When a band has an album that has songs in just about every genre imaginable I always think that is perhaps the hardest feat to pull off in rock music; as long as it sounds good that is. While they could probably coast by on the ballad front, whether its the slow kind now in style like the opener "Big Swimmer" or closer country throwback "John Prine on the Radio", the band has a ‘base’ sound that is much more entertaining. Jefferson Airplane mystique takes over on “the Mattress”, thrown in at third song of the record. It’s almost like this album is sequenced in the wrong song order, on purpose. Hannah Merick sings and Craig Whittle handles the guitar work. Whittle is one to watch, and maybe my favorite guitar player of the year.

The mix of 90s grunge and Neil Young tortured guitar solos on "Lily Pad” is case in point, off one the best songs of the year and its deep chasms could carve out a career unto itself. There are two eight-minute dirges in the MIDDLE of the record that stop and make you think, surround you in their glory: “Suddenly Your Hand” and especially "Somewhere Near El Paso" has to be heard to be heard to believed. The ending is sort of a talking guitar ourto, something that you think would have been out of fashion by now but again that’s part of the charm. Balancing everything out there is the ultra-catchy somewhat Patti Smith meets Fugazi influenced "New York, Let's Do Nothing", the minor chord chug of "Milk Boy" and the indie rock throwback "Davey Says" all different styles and flavors but somehow, magically smashed together. Every take on music seems effortless, but also painstakingly planned out. King Hannah has performed a fusion of all genres I can think of in rock n roll on Big Swimmer, and it makes me want more and more.

Best Songs: Lily Pad, Somewhere Near El Paso, New York Let’s Do Something, John Prine on the Radio