Evolution - Hip Bobsha

Boys and girls this has been a tremendous week for the Synic Spins camp. My inbox has been getting music review requests from all over this big blue marble. Today's request comes to us from the majestic faraway land of Rhode Island. Hip Bobsha is a self-described rock, blues, & folk band that was "brewed up and left to ferment." Their words, not mine. Their influences come from early 90s rock bands, including RHCP, Pearl Jam, Phish, and Grateful Dead. Upon hearing their newest EP "Evolution," I can 100% hear their influence here.

Admittedly, and I have never done this before, but upon starting their EP for the first time, I accidentally shuffled it, so I started with "From The Treetops" rather than "The Rope Climber." Whoops a daisy... See what I did there, Hip Bobsha?

Anyway, getting into it with the first track "The Rope Climber," I can immediately hear their influences. It is a solid opening track for an EP, as the very beginning of the song hits you with an engaging guitar intro that pulls you in almost immediately. Eventually they mellow out a little and the bluesy folk-rock commences. On top of the pile of influences mentioned above, after hearing the entire EP I would even add bands like 311 and R.E.M. into the mix. The way the songs are composed, with the catchy guitar parts and mellow vocals, reminds me very much of 311 or a mellow and drug-free Sublime. It is the singer's tone when he is delivering some of the louder, harder notes where he reminds me of Michael Stipe of R.E.M. (There are some parts when he almost sounds like a reggae Elvis Costello as well...)

"The Wellspring" takes a slight departure from these influences, and focuses on a lighter melody with a still very folky percussive drive underneath it. Sonically it works quite well. I even appreciate the whistling interludes. It's quite the fun listen, the only drawback to it is the tragically abrupt ending that almost feels as if it comes in the middle of the phrase. It seems to me that they could have done something different here, perhaps a fade-out or lighter guitar and whistling outro, rather than finishing on the vocal.

The most promising song at first glance was "Empire Blues," as you know Synic LOVES a good blues track. The guitar tone on this song is so dirty and bluesy I absolutely love it. I could smell beer and feel my feet sticking to a dirty hardwood floor while I listened to it. Unfortunately, that guitar doesn't last forever, as the blues gets periodically interrupted by some 311 reggae-folky interludes. It hurts me for this to happen as I am a massive blues fan, but alas life goes on.

For me, the weakness of this EP comes with the longer jam-band compositions. But that is entirely personal. I'm not a jam-band guy, never was, never will be. I knew I was in trouble when they claim their influences are Grateful Dead and RHCP, two groups on my least-favorite-bands-of-all-time list. Tracks like "Evenings of Sound" and "Dust" get repetitive and long for me, and they are each 7+ minutes of what feels like the same 6 measures of original music on repeat. 

As a whole, I think the EP would value from stronger mixing. I felt that the guitar was tragically washed out by some of the other components that were turned up too high. There was a long while during "From The Treetops" that I felt was far too treble-heavy, and I thought that tuning it down a bit and upping the bass. However, it was a very fun listen and it is clear to me that these guys have played music for a long time and they know how to write a song.

Evolution - Hip Bobsha

7 - 8 - 2015

1. The Rope Climber

2. The Wellspring

3. From The Treetops

4. Empire Blues

5. Evenings Of Sound

6. Dust

Favorite Track: The Wellspring

Least Favorite Track: From The Treetops

Rating: 6.4