Search - Say Hi To Your Mom :: Numbers & Mumbles

Brilliant pop music.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 03/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Numbers & Mumbles" is the sophomore effort from Brooklyn pop musician Eric Elbogen, better known as Say Hi To Your Mom. No sophomore slump, this is bar none one of the pop masterpieces of the first half of this decade.



Elbogen's first album (the superb but comparatively inferior "Discosadness") set up what he does-- a sort of lo-fi indie rock sound with clever, geek lyrics full of pop culture references and a sort of jaunty take on alternative angst. Its the lyrics that often make the songs-- concerns over hearing great records, science fiction metaphores, and lost love because of competitive video gaming. Add to that a sort of mid-90s jangly guitar with an early '80s new wave keyboard sound, and you've pretty much got this.



Remarkably, its his dive into seriousness with the album's closing tracks, the first a cover of "I'm So Tired" and the closer, "The Key of C", that is really superlative. The closer in particular, a song of fading love is just breathtaking.



But before we get there, there's eight songs of great goofy pop music-- the lo-fi rumble of "Pop Music Of the Future" bleeds into the almost glam "A Hit in Sweden". Both tracks are incredible slices of pop music, just amazing. Another album highlight is the very much evocative "Let's Talk About Spaceships", with its funky feel and deceptive non-serious exterior ("let's talk about spaceship or anything except you and me"), its another real standout on the album. Likewise, when the lyrics descend into purely goofy ("Super", "But She Beat My High Score", "Your Brains vs. My Tractorbeam"), Elbogen turns out his best performances-- all three have a sort of melancholy take to them and are geniuses of mood.



Its really hard to describe this album, it needs to be heard to be fully appreciated-- truth is, fans of intelligent pop of any form will probably love this. Essential listening."

Greatest album of 2004

Jason Persson | Littleton, Colorado | 11/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since the year of 2004 is closing near an end, i have compiled a list of my top fifteen greatest albums of the year. Numbers and Mumbles is my number one favorite album, maybe not even for this year, but the last five years also. Most great bands produce albums with a few flaws in them, a few songs that you always happen to skip and go to the next song. This album is solid all the way through, and even after you are done listening to it, you have to listen to it again. My favorite track would have to be "Lets Talk About Spaceships" and my second favorite is "But She Beat My High Score." You might assume by the title of the band that they are very cheesy and terrible, but if you pick up this cd, you will be astonished at how wonderful they really are. Definitely recommend it to everyone who is in the indie rock scene. A must have."

Great album.. tops my playlist

William Koch | Davis, CA United States | 03/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best album I've listened to in the last year.. really! I've played it so much that every track is on the Top-25 played list on my iPod/iTunes. I would love to try to classify it or compare it so other bands, but I really can't think of a comparison that would do this album justice.. get it, you won't be disappointed."