Ha Ha Tonka Death Of A Decade on Limited Edition LP
Includes Digital Download Card featuring the complete LP Program, Plus a Bonus Track
Death of a Decade is the culmination of years of hard work for Ozark quartet Ha Ha Tonka. They wowed us with their 2007 debut Buckle in the Bible Belt, matured on 2009’s Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, and without a doubt take their stand as one of the best young bands in the US on this latest LP. And as with Ha Ha Tonka’s previous releases, the band marries authentic Southern songs with modern edges on Death of a Decade, without ever coming across as gimmicky.
Even if the album’s songs aren’t specifically of the Ozarks, the sound still features traditional instrumentation (just listen to guitarist Brett Anderson’s killer arpeggio mandolin lines on “Usual Suspects” and “Made Example Of”), with bassist Lucas Long and drummer Lennon Bone rounding out the rhythm section, backing up lead vocalist Brian Roberts to stampeding affect. Still there are the heart-stirring four-part gospel harmonies, a signature sound that sets Ha Ha Tonka apart from every other indie band-cum-Southern rock group that seems to be shambling out of the suburban woods these days.
Ultimately, what makes Ha Ha Tonka’s brand of Southern rock so special is that it’s authentic, it’s effortless, and it never comes across as forced. They’re masters at bringing together the traditional and the modern. They sit at the crossroads of Americana and indie, where Alabama meets Arcade Fire, shakes their hand and takes them out for a drink.
Ha Ha Tonka Death Of A Decade Track Listing:
1. Usual Suspects
2. Westward Bound
3. Made Example Of
4. Jesusita
5. Lonely Fortunes
6. Hide It Well
7. Dead Man’s Hand
8. Problem Solver
9. Death of a Decade
10. No Great Harm
11. The Humorist
