The Great Stupidity - Half Ain't Wholey
Alternative/ Alt. Rock, Folk Indie, Pop
Maryland, United States
Overall Impression: Playing on the true-to-life superstitious nature of the crisis-addled masses, "Half Ain't Wholey" sets the the backdrop for the protagonist's call to adventure in Andy Lazris' The Great Stupidity by establishing that the town's holy relic - the toenail of Saint Ambrose - was ripped in half and therefore seemingly only able to protect half of the town's population as the plague known as The Great Mortality swept through the countryside.
Strongest Point(s): The marching cadence of "Half Ain't Wholey" does a great job of setting a rigidly pious tone for the accompanying lyrics - producing an experience that suits the rest of the book while maintaining a specific atmosphere for the specific moment at play. Pleasant and even playful vocal harmonies mingle over a marching snare and plodding piano to elicit images of marching to war, duty-bound and dire in the light of mass tragedy.
Target Audience Appeal: Vocally reminiscent of Anti-Folk, but with a structure and instrumental sound that conjure images of hard-faced congregants with noses in hymnals, "Half Ain't Wholey" comes across as a bit Folky, a bit funny, and a lot like a marching cadence! A bit rigid on its own, the song slots into The Great Stupidity effortlessly, expertly combining the staunch piousness of the misinformed masses with the absurdist tone of the overall work! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: The Laurie Berkner Band, Milkshake, Victor Johnson, Kimya Dawson, Ramshackle Glory, Mischief Brew, The Microphones, Radiator Hospital, Neutral Milk Hotel, Rilo Kiley, The Mountain Goats, Vashti Bunyan, Bratmobile, Sidney Gish, of Montreal, The Front Bottoms, Cyberbully Mom Club, Days N Daze, Frankie Cosmos
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.