Central North Carolina doesn’t have the worlds biggest music scene, but what we do have to claim as our own is Ben Folds and Squirrel Nut Zippers. I knew of this album for years but I never actually listened to it or knew that they came from Carborro, a small town a few miles from home. I don’t really have the best words for genre other than old. Forgive me, my album review skills are a little rusty. Released in 1996, Hot goes for a 1920’s sound with brass, stand up bases and a particular transatlantic accent in the vocals. It’s a fun listen.
There are a few albums that I have saved across all of my iPods and phones and what have you as standards, Albums that I mainly listen to while doing classwork or cooking or something of that sort. Albums that I know will be good from top to bottom, that won’t stick out too too much but with melodies I’ll always hum along to. Roy and Diz, Chick Coreas Native Sense, and this are prime examples. Usually it’s albums without lyrics, since I can find listening to vocals on repeat can become grating sometimes, but this one is an exception. Some of the tracks here are all instrumental, and wonderfully performed, but most are vocal in nature. Ballads and rags and real barnburners that I love to hear. It’s like the voices are instruments in themselves, and that can go in both ways in terms of enjoyment. Is it soothing or grating?
This is definitely a level of perception bias, but I feel like most record shops in my area has at least one copy of Hot or Perennial Favorites in the stacks. If you leave the area that probably changes, but regardless this album can be found wherever fine music is procured. Accept no substitutes!
Click here to go back to the music column hub