The Lil’ Hospital - Heavy Metal

The Lil' Hospital
Heavy Metal

As a sign of just how shmattily crazy the Shmat’s joint PO box has gotten lately, he has not gotten to listen to The Lil’ Hospital’s latest until just this very minute. But what a great record! The Shmat has already been familiarized with the jumpin’, twee-bumpin’, ego-less stompin’ indie pop greatness that the Hospital put forth in a flood from their earlier “I Wanna Be Well” album (Best Friends Records).

The newest release is called “Heavy Metal” and stumbles giddily into your living room via Total Gaylord Records. Most of the same auditory hallmarks are still there: the sweet ‘n perfect melodies that make you sway like palm trees, the Beach Boys - Barbara Ann “live room recording” feel, and the great choruses that are so insistently delicious that the Shmat feels like dancing and peeing at the same time. This record sounds a bit cleaner and the songs sound a bit more structured than previous outings. It’s still great and immediate indie pop, yet it seems to grab and yank at yer heartstrings even harder.

At this point the Shmat needs to talk about the “Swede Connection”. Oh, he knows quite well that head-Hospitaleer Kevin Alvir is not from Sweden. But shmat-darned if he still reminds the Shmat heavily of some of his fave Swedish indiepoppers. That would include The State of Samuel of course. If you’re looking for non-Swedish references, they could be: Tullycraft, Butterglory, Pants Yell!, Boyracer and The Gerbils.

The title track “Heavy Metal” blasts thing off in typical Hospital fashion - slightly off-kiltre vocals and sped up chords. “Why, Why, Why” reminds the Shmat of beach parties; he’s not sure why, but it could be the guitar line or the Beach Boys “oh woo woo’s” at the end. “Hey Little Crow” gives us a little dose of Good Day Sunshine along with some fun burbling trumpet.

“I’m A Little Hospital” runs toward the twee, sounding like a bit like a sweet old school Ben Lee love song. “Lost the Light” sounds almost Belle and Sebastian-ish, but it’s probably the chord changes and the strings that lend it that air. “Henry Lindquist” contains a ton of the technique that the Shmat really likes and makes the Lil’ Hospital taste so good: it’s the use of the voice as a “solo” instrument. Instead of an electric guitar taking the line, the vocals substitute by humming their way through the melody. “With The Wolves” was one of the Shmat’s favorites. It’s a bit different because it doesn’t start off right away with drums and louder guitars, but a simple rotating guitar line. It then proceeds to add vocals, keyboard, trumpet, drums and violin gradually. A great change of pace.

Along with the latest Pants Yell! CD, “Heavy Metal” is one of the Shmat’s favorite releases this spring/summer. Some great stuff on this record…

Band Website:

The Lil’ Hospital

by Shmat