The Loose Hinges

Nashville Tennessee duo, the Loose Hinges, offer up a mixture of sounds and sensations with their self-titled debut album. Self-described as "mostly dream pop", the eleven tracks on the album offer something much broader than a simple rehash of the early nineties genre. Indeed, the biggest single comparison to be made with the original dream pop is the languid and comfortable feel of the tracks, which have a sort of summery feel to them bringing to mind warm days in the fields with a flagon of cider and a carton of Marlboro to share round.
Vocalist Kris McCarthy has a voice which reminds you of Sheryl Crow in many ways, but also brings in elements of Liz Phair and even Shania Twain. Yet, don't be mistaken into thinking that The Loose Hinges is standard chick rock, for there is considerably more to it than that. A full array of sounds is provided by Eliot Houser, the other half of the duo, taking on a plethora of influences across rock, soul, jazz, Latin and pop.

Right from the opening track, "Out of the Sun", the duo set out their stall. By the time you are four tracks into the album, you have settled comfortably enough into the rhythm, just in time for the Loose Hinges to unsettle you with the Latin-influenced "Just Say It". This is a clever move to ensure that the listener continues to listen, and listen you should for the one thing you do not want to happen is to allow the music to seep into the background of whatever else it is you are doing. There is much more to come, and much more than you can properly take in on your first listen.

The next nudge to your complacency comes with "What You Waitin' For". Lulled into yet another false sense of security, you are greeted with a gritty track to shake up your senses and demonstrate that the Loose Hinges have the capability to rock you when they wish. In case you suspected McCarthy's capability to deliver on a track like this, give those suspicions up. She manages with ease to take it on without losing the essence of her own vocal style. "Don't Let Me Hold Back" offers a combination of the varied strands of their music, with its gentle verses while the refrain is more up-tempo, with a harder edge, while the electric guitar, when it comes to the fore, pitches you half way between the two, making this perhaps the stand out track on the album. After a folk-influenced, almost country ballad, "You Do More", the album rounds off with "Oh Boy", a folk-blues number which blends acoustic and acoustic bottleneck guitars.

Give this a listen. In fact, give it several. The more you hear this the more you will discover. And if you really want to hear The Loose Hinges at its best, then wait for a warm summer afternoon. - MusicEmissions

The Loose Hinges is a perfect name here because the music is far from being restricted on all levels. This group is giving you unlimited choices on their self-titled debut album. The Loose Hinges gives you a wide variety of musical styles to choose from where you won’t know what to expect from one song to the next.

The Loose Hinges is made of two talented musicians: multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Eliot Houser and lead singer/songwriter Kris McCarthy. This duo has combined to come up with something that just seems to fit perfectly for these two artists and its audience. You couldn’t ask for better chemistry between Houser and McCarthy as they just simply shine on this record.

Ready to shake up the Nashville music scene, The Loose Hinges offers up 11 songs that will grab your attention. The entire album really has an exotic vibe to it where Eliot Houser himself referred to the whole project as “mostly dream pop”. I do agree with Houser because you definitely get that dream world meets Pop sensation throughout the 11-track recording. I would say that is just part of the puzzle though as there is so much more being displayed here. You’ll pick up on a real rock ‘n’ roll sound on “What You Waitin’ For” and then turn around and hear a Cuban influence on “Just Say It” where I was really diggin’ the overall flow & rhythm. Get ready for a trippy approach on “Out of the Sun” and listen up for a bit of a country & folk on “You Do More” where Kris McCarthy gives you a standout vocal performance. You’ll notice wonderful guitar playing that really brings it all to life on the song “Oh Boy” where one can even hear elements of blues, country and bluegrass being touched on. So as you can see this duo doesn’t commit to any one genre but just plays music from the heart at the end of the day. The Loose Hinge’s motto should be If IT works and IT sounds good then PLAY it!

I have to say that I was majorly impressed with McCarthy’s singing ability. She sings & performs with such amazing grace & style where her powerful presence will hit you like a ton of bricks. Kris has one of those voices that just makes you want to listen up close and you will even experience McCarthy getting in touch with her emotional side on “Don’t Be Shy”. As an added bonus you’ll even receive a great vocal delivery from both Kris McCarthy and Eliot Houser. Add in Houser’s catchy guitar licks and you have one damn good album on your hands. I do have to say that I would have loved to have heard Houser & McCarthy singing harmonies together more like on “Don’t Be Shy” and maybe add in a few dynamite guitar solos. Other than that though I was extremely pleased with The Loose Hinges first effort.

There is definitely magic in the air as you will hear for yourself on this self-titled debut release. The Loose Hinges seems to have that IT factor and I just wonder what they will come out with next! I am very excited about the future of Loose Hinges as they continue on and offer endless possibilities to their listeners.

By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com)

- Skope

Nashville-based duo The Loose Hinges, debut release not only sounds refreshingly eclectic, but sparks bits of traditional production values.
This writer loves mysterious bands. The bands that have lyrics that reach beyond the obvious and take the listener to a place other than 'boy meets girl' or 'lovey dovey' sort of message usually resonate quicker. These kinds of lyrics matched with stunning sonic electronic sounds, muffled guitar riffs, tempting percussion intros and vocals like Mazzy Star are shoe-ins for a big 'W' in the win column. Well, sports fans, notch a 'W' for Nashville's The Loose Hinges for originality, eclectic alternative indie rock and serving up quite a variety in their 11-track self-titled debut.

"Out of the Sun" is the first track. At first the song sounds like it's going to be a club-heavy dance track. The percussion is consistent with techno, and the eery mood sways towards a darker, intriguing song (think a B-side Tears for Fears, INXS track). The beats are numbing. Without listening the lyrics, the song can indeed feel a bit trippy at times. It is really a mellow song and the mood is hauntingly beautiful.

Song Blueprints Include Moving Vocals
Track two, "This Time," has a different mood entirely. It is a bit more pop than the first track. In track three, "Mystery Solved," the tempo changes yet again and the eclectic band shows a different side. "Mystery" has these charging, almost 70s rock guitar riffs encrusted in the orchestration. It's catchy and the listener forgets the lyrics and gets stuck on the guitar! As the CD rolls along, it is evident that The Loose Hinges have a blueprint to their songs - moving vocals and unique electro-country rock-pop rock sounds threaded into one.

In "Back in Tune" the song opens up like a guitar bumbling through the sonic walls. It's interesting - and then the guitar changes into a solid jam. This is the albums standout track. The guitar sings along and peaks up and down perfectly with the vocals. This song is tight!

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Charice - Our Next Diva Ed Harcourt Tells Beautiful Lie Artist Profile - CéU "Just Say It" has this refreshing Spanish guitar sound meshed with a soulful, echoing vocal presentation. Strangely enough, instrumental fans would dig this song without the words, as would jazz fans. The trumpet sings with delight in a perfect pitch. It is as if the trumpet is cutting in a dance at an opportune time. Fans of Us3's "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" will also dig it.

Other standout tracks are "You Do More" and "Oh Boy."

Overall CD Review is B+

Fans of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mazzy Star, modern jazz and indie rock will find something they will enjoy on The Loose Hinges debut CD. Overall, The Loose Hinges gets a B+ grade. The CD has great songwriting, likeable sounds and is tightly produced.



Read more at Suite101: CD Review: The Loose Hinges' Self-Titled Debut 'Musical Mashup' | Suite101.com http://melissa-kucirek.suite101.com/cd-review-the-loose-hinges-self-titled-debut-musical-mashup-a394626#ixzz1cbC8mdtt - Suite 101

Out of the Sun is the first track on The Loose Hinges’ self-titled album, hitting listeners with a sound that is boldly different than practically anything that is on the market. The female vocals, coupled with the shifting, slinky sound achieved by the rest of the band has no comparison. Hints of Dusty Springfield and Nancy Sinatra can be heard in this aforementioned vocals, but the electronic arrangements that cradle these vocals establish a completely different head set. Mystery Solved brings things into a much more jangly and indefinite style; The Loose Hinges continue to forge through, aided by a guitar line that is just as much Gish-era Smashing Pumpkins as it is psychedelic rock.

Don’t Let Me Hold Back is the perfect example of the two sides of The Loose Hinges working in tandem; the vocals weave a tapestry that lays over the already complex arrangements below. This track represents some of the most heady music that I have heard this year, and the four minutes of run time feels substantially longer owing to this. An individual that can give their full attention to this track (and by extension, to the rest of the album) will be lost in all the twists and turns that the band has provided here.

The second half of the album adds further to this mystique; Oh Boy goes back to the 19th and early 20th century in the band’s appreciation for folk music. The Loose Hinges’ debut is like a grab bag in which every toy and trinket is good – one will ultimately have no idea what is contained within when they first purchase the CD, but will be able to cherish every single thing that issues forth.

Top Tracks: Out of the Sun, Don’t Let Me Hold Back

Rating: 9.0/10

- NeuFutur

Kris and Eliot: The CD is awesome, very zero-seven and portishead-y. Kudos!
- Eric Melcher - music blogger

Great MUSIC!!! I was blown away by your CD... It is a very seductive, textured, balanced CD. Vocals are intoxicating...a nice mix of styles...the music flows from start to finish...beautiful opening song.
- Bill Deutsch - independent promoter