Lunch of Champions

Say Hi | The Wishes and the Glitch

Say Hi (formerly “Say Hi to Your Mom”) had never been a high-priority for my listening time. I’d heard a few tracks here and there and thought “eh, it’s a good, but right now I’m listening to (insert band name here).” In fact, if it hadn’t been for their name being shortened, I might never have bothered.

The sound is hypnotic. Very simple chord progressions that change at just the right moment. There are no extended solos, there are only layers of sound that mix and interchange between instruments to form a wonderful and involving musical depth. At times it’s a very digital sound, but never cold. A calm warmth seeps out from the speakers and envelopes the listener.

While Eric Elbogen’s vocals are far from perfect, they suit the music perfectly. He misses notes here and there, and almost mumbled his way through the album. His voice sounds exhausted, as though it took immense effort for him to sing. It creates this delicate sense of urgency, this intense need of the vocalist to share his thoughts and experiences in song.

I really try to offer a balanced opinion in everything I write up here, but honestly I can’t find anything wrong with this album. Sure, not everyone’s going to absolutely love it, but there isn’t a single beat, a single note, that isn’t exactly what it should be. Even out of tune, it’s just precisely what it is.