{"id":623,"date":"2011-10-17T05:20:01","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T10:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=623"},"modified":"2011-10-17T05:20:01","modified_gmt":"2011-10-17T10:20:01","slug":"album-review-mayer-hawthorne-how-do-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2011\/10\/17\/album-review-mayer-hawthorne-how-do-you-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: Mayer Hawthorne – How Do You Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Get ready for a musical experience that will take you back to early 70s Detroit. Close your eyes while listening to How Do You Do<\/em>, the second full-length from Mayer Hawthorne<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll have no difficulty imagining yourself seated on a comfy naugahyde couch. If you\u2019re a gentleman, you might just imagine a lovely lady there on the couch with you; she\u2019s dressed in a halter top. You might be sharing a fine glass of Champale, even.<\/p>\n

Yes, Mayer Hawthorne is decidedly retro. This slight, bespectacled Jewish guy from Detroit (born Adam Cohen<\/strong>) got his start as a rapper, but listening to this album (and his debut A Strange Arrangement<\/em>), it\u2019s clear that he consumed a steady diet of classic soul and r&b. You\u2019ll hear distinct echoes of Barry White<\/strong>, the Dramatics<\/strong><\/a>, and even a bit of Gamble-Huff<\/strong> Philly-style soul on these grooves.<\/p>\n

Understated but meticulously-crafted arrangements are the foundation of How Do You Do<\/em>. While A Strange Arrangement<\/em> was built on Hawthorne\u2019s laptop, this album \u2013 on a major label and presumably benefiting from an increased recording budget \u2013 doesn\u2019t really sound all that different. That\u2019s not to say that it\u2019s not high-gloss, note-perfect production; it\u2019s rather to point out that irrespective of his budget, Hawthorne nails the aesthetic.<\/p>\n

Concessions to modern trends are few: you could easily pass How Do You Do<\/em> off to your friends an a long-lost collection of classic sides. Hawthorne strikes a Hall and Oates<\/strong> vibe on \u201cA Long Time,\u201d and \u201cDreaming\u201d sound like nothing so much as Electirc Light Orchestra<\/strong> (Hawthorne\u2019s a fan: he covered \u201cMr. Blue Sky\u201d on an EP earlier this year<\/a>). Leave it to Mayer Hawthorne to point out the sonic connections between Detroit sweet soul and British progressive-pop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Walk\u201d sounds like classic beach music (east-coast style); it\u2019s easy to imagine people shagging to it (both kinds). Lyrical splashes like \u201cBaby\u2019 you\u2019re pissing me off\u201d and \u201cchange your fuckin\u2019 attitude\u201d might keep it off the charts in its current form, but the smooth \u201cso long, you did me wrong\u201d backing harmonies are a delight.<\/p>\n

On one hand, Hawthorne\u2019s retro shtick is slavish in its attention to detail: there\u2019s not a note out of place (or, more succinctly, out of time). But a pastiche of such high order cannot be created by someone lacking a full and heartfelt understanding of the styles referenced throughout. Whether it\u2019s a slow jam like \u201cGet to Know You\u201d or an uptempo Miracles<\/strong>-styled outing like \u201cHooked\u201d (with subtle horn charts), Hawthorne always<\/em> hits his mark: his aim is true.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of highlights on How Do You Do<\/em>, but \u201cYou Called Me\u201d is a strong contender for the album\u2019s best track. Hawthorne illustrates his vocal versatility; he trades in a variety of vocal personae throughout the album. Here he\u2019s the smooth and smokey (sic) romantic leading man, backed by female chorus.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re Not Ready\u201d recalls the Dramatics and the Miracles (specifically \u201cOoh Baby Baby\u201d). In fact How Do You Do<\/em> improves on Hawthorne\u2019s approach: while some of the tracks on A Strange Arrangement<\/em> were rewrites \u2013 albeit clever, well-executed ones \u2013 of older songs (witness \u201cYour Easy Lovin\u2019 Ain\u2019t Pleasin\u2019 Nothin\u2019,\u201d an alternate-universe \u201cYou Can\u2019t Hurry Love\u201d), the songs on How Do You Do<\/em> take the styles from the past, but apply them to songs that are a bit more original.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe News\u201d features toy piano as its centerpiece, and this sprightly little tune is over in just past a minute and a half. Which makes a point: Hawthorne\u2019s songs never wear out their welcome. The hooks are generally front-loaded, making sure the songs don\u2019t waste time getting to their point. And only one of the twelve tracks breaks the four-minute mark. One of Hawthorne\u2019s musical rules seems to be to make his mark and move quickly on to the next one. The net effect is an album that blows by quickly — never flagging, never faltering \u2013 racing to its end. It\u2019s quite likely you\u2019ll want to play it again immediately on its finish.<\/p>\n

Note: Mayer Hawthorne will return to Asheville NC<\/a> to perform at the 2011 Moogfest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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