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Cleveland's best unknown songwriter strikes again. (8 OUT OF 10) “Every couple of years, Cleveland songwriter Mike Uva tosses off an album of sublime jangle pop, tangled with wry, self-observant lyrics, melancholy chord progressions and encased in warmly lo-fi production values. The world pays no attention to these gem-like albums, but that’s the world’s loss, because Uva is as good, in his way, as a string of big ticket songwriters. He is, for instance, as catchy as Bob Pollard, as slyly subversive as Lou Barlow, as effortlessly melodic as Nick Salomon. . . . Static Songs begins with the observation, “I was born with a hook for a hand / and a typewriter salesman where my father used to stand,” the line fitting perfectly into "Hook Boy"'s offhand but devilishly insistent melody. There’s a shiver of electric keys, an angsty Dire Straits-ish guitar solo, an explosion of driving drums, but what you remember is the way the melody twists and turns, buoyant and yearning by turns. Hooks for hands, indeed. There are hooks everywhere you look here.” “. . . one of the great unexpected surprises I’ve encountered this year.” “The strength in this release lies in the honesty and simplicity of its arrangements. . . . If you're like me, and you get turned off by indie bands that throw more instruments into the mix in a vain attempt to make their music more "unique," then you'll certainly appreciate the way Mike Uva and Hook Boy easily shift from one sound to another within their limited pallette, not by using different instruments, but by playing the same set of instruments differently.” “A testament to the anything-but-banal music currently being produced in Cleveland . . . ” (5+ OUT OF 6) “Surprisingly melodic and accessible, Static Songs may be an underground release, but the songs are so smooth and familiar that just about anyone could enjoy them (if they had the chance to hear them, of course). We can hear lots of possible influences here. At times, Mike Uva's tunes remind us of The Feelies, Richard Thompson, and Ray Davies . . . and that's just the beginning. So many modern artists rely on technology to get their point across. Uva seems to have the exact opposite idea. Instead of burying his songs in technology and too many overdubs, he presents them simply using only the bare essentials. This approach works extremely well on Static Songs. The tracks sound very warm and genuine, and completely free of gimmicks. The more we spin this one, the better the songs sound. Love them gee-tars. Subtle smart pop tracks . . . Very satisfying.” “Straddling the line between neo- and auteur-folk and stark, jangly pop, Uva and his band Hook Boy have perfected their sound on the 9-track release Static Songs, a mix of old and new material. This disc is worthy of even the most picky indie music fan -- offering a heart full of impact and world-weary melancholy, proving that every bit of three years was needed to complete it. “Graced by tambourines, electric piano and stunning lyrical narratives, Uva's work seems to have found a balance between stripped-back instrumental grace, purposeful intention, and an intrepid flair for the quirky. . . . “Grant-Lee Phillips once said that everyone needs a little sanctuary. To wit, Mike Uva's Static Songs is exquisite . . . and just the ticket.” |
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