The Head and the Heart, the six-piece pop-folk band from Seattle, WA, released their debut self-titled album in early January of this year. The sextet give a new feeling to the traditional pop-folk trend set by artists such as Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, and The Tallest Man on Earth. Unlike these other fold bands, however, The Head and the Heart’s debut packs a ton of energy behind the traditional folk sound, especially in the first two tracks on the album: “Cats and Dogs” and “Coeur d’Alene,” which transition into each other seamlessly.
And, of course, behind every great folk album are the lyrics. The Head and the Heart write many of their songs about traveling, friends, and the sheer beauty of nature, giving the album an authentic Americana feel that would have made Walt Whitman proud.
As much as you may have loved Fleet Foxes and the other aforementioned folk artists, The Head and the Heart have an incredible advantage over them with the infectious energy that they have accomplished with this album. The energetic piano and contrasting, prolonged “Ooh’s” and “Ahh’s” create a near-perfect balance, and contributes to much of the album’s substance.
Perhaps whats best about the Head and the Heart, though, is that every song is remarkably distinct. Songs like “Down in the Valley” portray the purity of their Americana-folk feel, while the changing tempos of “Sounds Like Hallelujah” vaguely reminds me of Queen’s famous “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Here is a video of them performing "Down In The Valley"...
The Head and the Heart is bound to appeal to faithful fans of the current folk trend, as well as fans of great alternative pop. And if they keep up the great sound found on their debut album, they very well may surpass folk artists like Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses in both fame and critical acclaim.
by The Converse Rock Star; edited by Boom D
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