HOOGENBOOM - "Skipping Town"
The first sample of a bigger body of work, which is anticipated to be released early next year, is this beauty “Skipping Town.” I have to thank the Brooklyn-based record label and management company Rose Garden for sharing this tune by California-based singer-songwriter HOOGENBOOM (Brandon Hoogenboom) as I am now a fan!
It's a soaring, sun-drenched performance that feels both timeless and current, inspired by an old bandmate who abruptly and mysteriously vanished. The beat of the song causes involuntary head nodding. Although I don't run, I can see how this peppy tune might be ideal for setting a pace. A snappy lead guitar line introduces some pretty fantastic guitar sections. Above the persistently driving acoustic guitars, the vocal is delivered in a cool, soaring manner. The bass and drum arrangements for this song are also pretty spectacular, as the bass skillfully pokes through the space while the drums are incredibly sparse and just serve to punctuate the beat. The music is equally fantastic, and after 2 minutes and 49 seconds, I find myself wanting more.
For fans of Elliott Smith or Local Natives.