Album Review: Librarians with Hickeys – Handclaps & Tambourines
Their name might be on the unfortunate side, but Librarians with Hickeys know how to craft a winning tune. The trio engages in some straightforward truth-in-labeling on their latest release, titling the 12-song collection Handclaps & Tambourines. That tells you a great deal of what you need t6o know about the music therein. So I’ll simply fill you in on a few other salient details.
“I Better Get Home” opens the album with a solid beat, some tasty combo organ and spirited unison shouts of “Hey!” Can’t go wrong with that approach, and they don’t. Strong melodies and assured playing and arrangement are offered up in ample supply throughout the record. The Rickenbacker jangle of “Ghost Singer” will appeal to fans of Velvet Crush. There’s some breezy vibes on “Fairground,” a slightly darker and more contemplative tune that still works well in the context of a largely peppy set of tunes.
“Can’t Wait ‘Till Summer” has the feel of prime Beach Boys, if the southern California heroes had backing by, say, the Smithereens. “Lady Overdrive” feels more like what we might expect form Midwestern alternarockers (Urge Overkill, Cheap Trick, Material Issue). The shimmering “Stumbling Down Memory Lane” is a rockier rethink of the Left Banke without the baroque elements. “When We Were young” is more in that vein, with effective and subtle use of Mellotron (and, yes, handclaps). The album finsihes as strong as it starts: “Me and My Big Mouth” skillfully balances winsome melancholy and an inviting melody.
That variety is part of the strength of Librarians with Hickeys: they rock right, but they don’t write the same song over and over. Handclaps & Tambourines is heartily recommended.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.