Hey Mercedes - EP

Hey Mercedes formed out of the ashes of the great indie/emo/post-hardcore band, Braid, to to create an absolutely fantastic first album and debut EP. Fronted by Bob Nanna (guitar and vocals), Hey Mercedes molds incredibly dynamic hooks and melodic phrases with enough pop sensibility to make their songs instantly accessible and enjoyable. Hey Mercedes relies on intense and intricate song structures by using simple guitar, drums, bass and vocals with hardly any over dubs or effects. Such density by simplicity is almost unbelievable - but after hearing the way in which Bob Nanna's first band Braid developed, this type of writing and song development must have come entirely natural.

Their debut EP opens with the less than chiming "Bells", as thick guitars set the background for Nanna's unique voice and clever, intelligent lyrics - handclaps, bell hits, and harmonic sweeps are all overtly apparent. The next track "St. James St." follows a similar formula of heavy guitars, including an emphasized stop start rhythm, with the vocals changing emphasis constantly to stray from the repetitive, though well established backing instruments. "The House Shook" is possibly the best song on the EP simply because it sounds the most like Hey Mercedes (i.e. something that was to be considered new to fans of the old Braid, i.e. a new progression). The production on "The House Shook" is especially refined, guitar one and two split in stereo and propel the song in a completely unique way - honestly I have never heard guitars force a song along in such a way. I would not be surprised if J.Robbins of Jawbox, Burning Airlines and Channels fame sat at the boards for this record."Stay Six", the closer, is the "ballad" of the record. "Stay Six" speaks something of compassion and the comprehension of personal growth - pretty passionate stuff. The instruments are essentially untouched in terms of tone on this final track, without some of their complexity, but are assembled in such a way as to leave Nanna's lyrics wide-open.

There is much to be appreciated in the EP's sixteen minute running time - much more than many full length releases of today's age. Songs with such a well oriented structure and meticulously detail are not commonplace, and finding a collection such as this debut EP is a challenge in itself. Without synths, keys, strings, blipps and beeps, brass, etc., etc., Hey Mercedes shake up and destroy most folks current idea of what constitutes "Indie Rock". Hey Mercedes is a pure breed.

Generally, most of Bob Nanna's work (with Braid, Hey Mercedes, The City on Film) seems to embrace being young, creative, brainy, and heartfelt. It's graceful and moving and fills a context that many tend to ignore. It's legit. Listen to it:

* I really wanted to listen and review the National's new album, but I haven't gotten it on my hands yet. I'm somewhat of an amateur when it comes to the National, but I'll try to give their new record a review based on their development and context within the world of rock/ independent music.

Hey Mercedes - EP for fans of Braid, The Promise Ring, Pennines, Monument, Everyone Everywhere, Longitude, bands like that, etc., etc. etc.