Неизвестные ... Часть 4. Группа Hal

Ирландская группа, выпустившая дебютный альбом в прошлом году. Их музыка это смесь Beatles, Beach Boys, Monkees, Hollies и Bee Gees. Я был приятно удивлен!

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Irish quartet Hal is made up of brothers Paul (vocals/guitar) and Dave Allen (vocals/bass), drummer Paul Hogan, and keyboardist Stephen O'Brien. The Allens' parents were folk musicians and their love of music was imbedded in their sons, Dave playing in bands since his early teens and both of them writing tons of songs together for Hal. The group formed in the early 2000s and began blending their love of classic rock like the Beatles, the Byrds, Harry Nilsson, and the Beach Boys into something all their own. After six months of playing a night a week at the Sugar Club in Dublin, Rough Trade beat out the heavy competition and won the group's signature on a contract. They released their first single, "Worry About the Wind," in March of 2004 and were featured on Rough Trade's excellent 2004 collection The Rough Trade Field Guide to Music, Vol. 1, contributing "Worry About the Wind" and the lovely "Out Tonight." The usual batch of live dates (supporting the likes of Starsailor, Grandaddy, and Doves) followed, as did the recording of a full-length album. With production assistance from ex-Tears for Fears member Ian Stanley, the great Edwyn Collins, and the group itself, 2005's Hal is a masterpiece of bubbling pop music and heartfelt classic ballads equal to any guitar rock of 2005 and just about any other year.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nojeeaz74xu7

Еще про Supertramp забыл ;-)) См. заглавную вещь с альбома.

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Hal are destined to be compared to the Thrills: both groups are from Ireland; both are purveyors of ultra-hooky, dramatic vocal harmony-drenched tunes with a West Coat slant; and both are very, very good. Once you get past the surface comparisons, though, there are enough differences to reduce the similarities to a happy coincidence. Hal certainly aren't ripping off the Thrills; there is far too much exuberance and excitement on their debut album for them to be written off as mere imitators. They lack the pretension and arch concept of the Thrills; they also have more emotional depth and a more relaxed feel. Besides, they just might be better anyway. The first two songs give the Thrills and just about anyone else a serious run: "What a Lovely Dance" is a chiming mini-epic that encompasses walls of guitars, humming synthesizers and organs, lyrics about lost mittens and messed-up hair, spiraling falsetto harmonies, and a totally alive sound that feels like you have your fingers knuckle deep in a light socket, and the Edwyn Collins-produced "Play the Hits" is a star-spangled blast of sunshine and manic energy that is hard to listen to without picturing Hal racing around like the Monkees on the beach as brothers Dave and Paul Allen croon and careen through wall of bells, maracas, and Motown guitars. The rest of the record is no real letdown either, as the Allens' vocals are a constant treat and the group proves itself equally adept at laid-back ballads that utilize subtle string arrangements (the aching "Keep Love As Your Golden Rule," "I Sat Down"); gentle, summery rockers ("Don't Come Running," the falsetto-drenched "Fools By Your Side"); and even arena-friendly soft rock ballads (the weighty "Worry About the Wind," which shows bands like Coldplay that you can be serious and deep without being boring). Echoes of the Beatles, Harry Nilsson, the Beach Boys, and Phil Spector are everywhere, and while those aren't exactly unique or even very interesting reference points in 2005, Hal again go beyond imitation and use their influences as a good band should, as guides and not blueprints. Hal really sound like another in the long line of melodic bands from the British Isles that has been dazzling music fans since the late '90s — think Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, and (again, in case you forgot) the Thrills. Add some American groups like Mercury Rev at their poppiest and a choir-less Polyphonic Spree, or Canadians like the Heavy Blinkers, and if that list sounds like your record collection, you shouldn't think twice about adding Hal. They'll be stuck in your CD player for weeks, guaranteed.

1 What a Lovely Dance Allen, Mullan, O'Brien 3:50
2 Play the Hits Allen 3:21
3 Keep Love As Your Golden Rule Allen 3:54
4 Don't Come Running Allen, Mullan, O'Brien 3:27
5 I Sat Down Allen 4:26
6 My Eyes Are Sore Allen, Mullan, O'Brien 5:22
7 Fools By Your Side Allen, Mullan, O'Brien 4:03
8 Worry About the Wind Allen 4:06
9 Satisfied Allen 3:18
10 Slow Down (You've Got a Friend) Allen 3:00
11 Coming Right Over Allen 4:35

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nojeeaz74xu7

Видео "Play the Hits"
http://www.sanctuarynewmedia.com/roughtrade/hal90_hi.wmv

P.S. Спасибо Котофеич!

Корвие, спасибо! Просто волшебные, особенно первая вещь.

Сорри, КорвиН, пальцы запутались.

Hal - Play The Hits


Hal - Worry About The Wind

Нашелся весь альбом целиком: http://ifolder.ru/2842863

HAL с "Mind Games", среди прочих исполнителей сделавших каверы на песни Джона Леннона:

http://musicfond.com/artist.phtml?id=107452&album=116390#1