Review: Hi-five (s/t)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Do not dismiss Hi-Five as a Green Day mall-punk outfit based solely on their somewhat adolescent name. Their debut album is a smart, textured mix of shoegazer twinkling and infectious songwriting. Owen Schetchler sings earnestly, but steps back from the brink of melodrama. He lets the interplay between his and Jeff Aymond’s guitars create the delicate tension that makes these songs work. Tracks like “Raz” invite comparisons to the sunny melodies of The La’s with a significant disturbance burbling right under the surface, while “Limbo” creates a miasma of 1980s psychedelia and Sonic Youth atmosphere. It’s a strong little record from a strong little band. myspace.com/hifive
Essential tracks: “Limbo,” “We Must Go,” “People Say”
Recommended if you like: Modest Mouse, Fugazi, summer sleeper hits
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