First off the creative on the cover is tight; big sky, family vacation, national parks in the 50’s, Nebraska mid west type pics, if you have ever driven out there you feel it. This record speaks and affects the fan of the Ugly Organ with its intensity. There is tension and pain in all the bright instruments and sounds pushed to their ends. Some Cursive records go over da head and it’s been accepted, but Happy Hollow affects immediately with Babies, Dorothy at Forty and Big Bang which makes us seem really, really small. Thereafter, Happy Hollow, has many peaks and troughs in its journey, including The Sunks, (Oingo Boingo?), to its finale Hyms for the Heathen closing the open sounds and themes. And to go off the subject completely I just hit Cursives MySpace to remember the title of the record that went way over my head (The Recluse and The Difference Between Houses and Homes) and Bad Sects played through MySpace while I had Happy Hollow on the Yamaha system blowing through Event speakers and it made me realize what I guess I hadn’t realize but feel like I have known. Listening to music on a computer or even worse through MySpace blows moose cock? To hear the songs kind of side by side was an awakening or a realization of some sort. The quality people are getting used to is awful. Anyway back to the guys with 55k friends; Happy Hollow is dope and complex and intense and gets bloody and make statements about war and life, and timelessly, where the feelings could apply now or back when or then. It hits. The horns are ridiculously incredible and perfect in where they take the songs and orchestration. Does anyone sound like this or do I not listen to enough cerebral stuff to have come in contact with anything close? 5 of 5 and Homers and the Old Market, French Café, the Ranch Bowl, the Old 49er Bar are all dope. Much Omaha, Cursive and especially Happy Hollow love in the cut.

- D