Puddlegum

Precious fellow fans of Say Hi To Your Mom would know how Eric Elbogen and his crew harshly broke our hearts by demoting the band’s name to Say Hi a short time ago. Why and how would you change one of the most deluxe band names all of a sudden? Is it sort of a netting down? Was it needed? Is SHTYM abbreviation not short enough? What was wrong with saying “hi” to “moms”? Isn’t it sad that all the dashing guise of this title is now laid to rest along with all those colorful SHTYM t-shirts and CD booklets? Who will fix the mess with my related last.fm tags which are now wistfully split into two as Say Hi To Your Mom and Say Hi? How could you Eric?! How could you?!?!

Being occupied with these huffish opinions, I was almost sure that there is no way I could forgive this “betrayal” except Say Hi To Your Mom announcing an Istanbul date for the next tour. I know it is “music” what matters not the name but our beloved band would not be THAT extra-ordinary anymore. That’s something, right? Tell me, how would you feel if I Love You But I Have Choosen Darkness were suddenly called I Love You? Or Casiotone for the Painfully Alone as Casiotone? Or Half Man Half Biscuit as Half Man?……etc.etc.

Nonetheless, you know how we humans easily loosen up when it comes to things and people we love, no matter how pissed(!?) we actually are! Some “unexpected” movement from the “offender” comes along and we are truly melted away again. Well, Elbogen has recently done the same said thing to get us all surprised, wondered, muddled, somewhat puzzled… by making an announcement about the new release. The Wishes And The Glitch - 5th studio album of Say Hi To Your Mom (or debut of Say Hi should I say?) is ready!! (It is actually out on Feb/ 2008 BUT you can order the CD and download the album already!!!) It was totally “unexpected” because almost no update was given away whilst the making of the record in order to take measure against the “conveniences” of the digital world! It was all secretly cavernous! Hence it made me jump on my seat once I heard the good news!

So, Let’s Talk About The Wishes and Glitch (Ha!)

It is a fantastic spontaneous gift from Eric Elbogen and I am loving every piece of it! Opener tune Northwestern Girls stands to be a new Say Hi To Your Mom favorite such as Let’s Talk About Spaceships, Super, Laundry, or These Fangs Upbeat, catchy with a moving energy once the drums start ramping in the chorus which is so glorious that you’re ready to surround the album once you listen to this song. A respectful mention goes to Elbogen’s mild vocals here! It is a warm pleasure listening to him as usual..

Back Before We Were Brittle and Oboes Bleat and Triangles Tink follow the same direction with their rises and falls at beats. Each of them is pretty melodic and impulsing!

Toil and Trouble is one of the most ambitious songs in the album. You can feel the electronic blast at the top level in this one. “Wooo-ing” rising from the back vocals give a clear brisk feel to it. Bluetime resembles to this one in electronic basis. Both remind me of Not As Goth As They Say We Are; a loved SHTYM song.

Spiders is probably the most haunting moment of the album. It is my favorite along with Northwestern Girls and Apples for the Innocent. Remember Blizzard from the debut Discosadness? To me, Blizzard is one of the best SHTYM songs (along with Super) with no wide recognition sadly. Somehow, Spiders reminds me of Blizzard. It’s probably because of the similar downtempo building both tunes acquire and Eric Elbogen’s earnest vocals glowing proudly! I just hope it doesn’t stay as underrated as Blizzard have stayed up to date…

Shakes Her Shoulder and Magic Beans and Truth Machines are relatively calmer tunes keeping the melodic structure still with an outflowing ambiance. Zero To Love similarly moves in a nerveless way. It is outstanding with the twee motives coming out in claps that is embroidered into the tranquility of the melody.

Apples for the Innocent is even calmer and it is the most ambient sounding track in The Wishes and Gitch. I enjoy the echoing boom bridgeing lyrics together. That booming noise again makes this the darkest piece in the album.

Final tune We Lost The Albatross hounds the same mellow path, trimmed with relaxing electronica and embracing ambiance! Elbogen’s singing is like a natural instrument soiled in the chords.

To spread the word on this beautiful record, SHTYM is currently on the US tour with The Velvet Teen and The A-Sides. So those in the USA - you know what to do while we wait them to announce the European dates with no patient!? Good!

All in all, The Wishes and Glitch is a typical Say Hi To Your Mom perfectness shuttled in an absolute melodic melancholy. I fairly think, even those who knocked Impecabble Blahs with their heavy hand would enjoy and espouse this album. As for the name change, well who cares the “form”, when the “fact” is killing beautiful?

P.S. Although I will still call them (him actually) Say Hi To Your Mom. You can’t get out of your habits easily, after all.

Say Hi To Your Mom - Northwestern Girls

Say Hi To Your Mom on iTunes