After a four-year hiatus,
Mother Hips return with the
Red Tandy EP, and it seems they're still at the top of their game. Co-leaders
Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono not only have great vocal harmonies, but excellent guitar interplay as well, and though the band plays it loose, they know all the right classic rock moves. "Red Tandy" is pure guitar pop pleasure: catchy as all get-out with great harmonized vocals, killer backing vox, and some ripping guitars. "Colonized" hits a bit harder, something like
Neil Young jamming with
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, while "Blue Tomorrow" adds a slight psychedelic touch. The EP closes with another version of "Red Tandy," which is such a great song you won't mind hearing it twice. This will only whet the appetite for their forthcoming full-length. ~ Sean Westergaard