Cursive: Tim Kasher, Ted Stevens (vocals, guitar); Matt Maginn (vocals, bass guitar); Clint Schnase (drums).
Recording information: 2006.
HAPPY HOLLOW continues Cursive's catalogue of thoughtful and wildly inventive concept albums. It tells the story of a fictional town somewhere in the western United States, and investigates the many religious and social conflicts manifested in the personal lives of its residents. Cursive has expanded its sound here, adding brass and strings along with other instruments to its signature sound of melodic, dissonant guitar rock. The rhythm section provides a bigger bounce than on previous Cursive albums, which fits the hop-a-long feel of the album. These are wonderful songs, challenging musically and thematically, but rocking all the way through.

Rolling Stone (p.105) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[Cursive's Tim Kasher] asks questions, makes demands, promises impossibilities, explores the ugly places in the heart. But that's why he's an original..."
Spin - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] set of more engaging musical arrangements, applying gospel voices and Dixieland horns to his band's spastic art-rock posturing."
Entertainment Weekly (p.86) - "All that metaphysical hand-wringing makes for some knotty songs, but the band attacks them with zeal: brisk tempos, muscular riffs, and blasts of melody."
Uncut (p.79) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "HAPPY HOLLOW serves up more emo with prog on the side, then adds dirty blues, cabaret and art-rock garnish."
Alternative Press (p.207) - "HAPPY HOLLOW is still a pleasure on the ears. While the horns, accordions and organs are nice textural touches, the core of the group...have never sounded better."
Magnet (p.88) - "[I]n place of Cohn's broad bow strokes are horn parts that burst like thought balloons and bombs, redirecting Cursive to a crazed junction of jazz, blues and bloodied ball-room punk."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.104) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "HAPPY HOLLOW swings with the nutty abandon of Madness, sharpened with the literate punk frenzy of Fugazi."