artist: HUB
genre: indie-pop, alt-rock
label: unsigned
listen now:
Upside Down :: Forget Them :: Round and Round
Ok. I have something that I just have to get off my chest. My name is Drago and, under normal circumstances, I have a complete and utter disdain for “singer-songwriters.” Whew! I feel much better now. I’m not altogether sure from whence this animosity emanates or, to that end, what even sparked it in the first place but admitting you have a problem is the first step…right? In any event, I was just about to seek therapy (yes…again) in attempts to uncover the genesis of this rather troubling condition when along comes Josh McFadden and his brainchild HUB. Crisis averted. In fact, I was about half way through HUB’s latest album 8 before I even realized that HUB was actually Josh (and vice versa, of course.) I’m not sure if he is pulling a Kravitz here and playing all of the instruments on this record (perhaps he’ll weigh in via the comments and let us know) but if he is I am duly impressed.
“Upside Down” gets out the gate and in yo face from the get go with an opening chord sequence that immediately had me thinking “Oasis!” I suspect that those who consider themselves to fans of the the brothers Gallagher (and even those that don’t) will appreciate the comparison as well as the song. Other notable tracks include “Forget Them” which sports a groovy riff that gives way to a harmony filled hook that I just can’t shake out of me mellon while “Round and Round” swings a bit more to the subtle side compared to the rest of the disc and rocks it with a brit-pop kind of style.
Start to finish 8 is an energetic thrill ride and, while I can’t say I’m 100% cured of my malady, HUB certainly has opened my eyes and, more importantly, my ears to the possibility of a full recovery.
– Drago