Herm might not be the best moniker for a relatively unknown but talented musician, but the one man band comprised of Dubliner Kevin Connolly has already made his mark with a debut album of contemporary, in-your-face indie pop that includes some sweet indie gems.
Herm’s debut album, Monsters, features a collection of crafty songs that are as diverse in sound as they are brilliant in production. The opening track, “That Way”, sounds like a song that belongs in a modern western film with its choruses of “bah-ooh” that sounds like Johnny Cash wrangling with Built To Spill.
Just when you think the cavalry might come galloping in to save the day, the next song, “Heads” the first UK radio single from the album, delivers a cheerful and bouncy contrast. But the bopping sound of “Heads” cleverly disguises its otherwise odd lyrics that seem to suggest cannibalism. It even seems as if the subject himself finds solace in his own demise, if that’s what this is all about:
“Step one rub me down with grease
step two cook me in the fire
Step three; cut me into pieces
eat me when I’m done”
With its nearly irresistible charm enhanced by the music video (below), “Heads” manages to have a quirky appeal that makes it memorable and refreshing.
Monsters, which was recorded over several months in various abodes around Ireland, takes the listener on a journey through changing landscapes of styles, from quirky pop to saddle-slapping blues, and emotions, from anger to gloom.
In April, the track, “Year Of The Horse” received an honorable mention in the prestigious International Song Competition. That’s an impressive accomplishment considering the judges themselves included rock legends Ray Davies of The Kinks, Robert Smith of The Cure and Tom Waits.
The track “Rosemary” is a bright, upbeat song, but like “Heads” apparently masks
a more disturbing and confused message. At once he’s talking about some girl that “never looked so good” as when she is “screwing someone else” but it “makes me so mad.” While Herm’s music can be infectious at times, the content of his messages are dark. Other times it’s hard to know what he’s trying to say. Are these metaphors we have here or just muddled lyrics?
Some of the songs were recorded with The Hermanos, a band Connolly still performs with at live shows. Apparently, when Connolly went solo, he shortened Hermanos (which means brothers in Spanish) to Herm.
Monsters, while it has its faults (mostly a lack of an overall concept), is still an excellent debut album, especially considering it was written, performed and produced by a relatively new and unknown singer-songwriter. It’ll be interesting to see where Herm’s journey takes him next.
“Heads” - Herm from Monsters (2009)
“Year Of The Horse” - Herm (with Nina Hynes) from Monsters (2009)
“The Way” - Herm from Monsters (2009)
Influences: Tom Waits, Pavement, White Stripes, Beck, Radiohead
Favorite albums: Tom Waits’ Bone Machine, The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.
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