Heart-shaped Mountain

Ha Ha Tonka's latest offering "Heart-shaped Mountain" is a mixed bag of tricks that will leave you scratching your head and tapping your feet in equal measure. The album kicks off with the infectious jangle-pop of "Everything" which sets the tone for the rest of the record - think The Smiths meets The Beach Boys at a ceilidh. It's a joyous cacophony of sounds that shouldn't work but somehow does. Tracks like "Going That Way" and "Land Beyond" showcase the band's knack for catchy hooks and clever wordplay, making you want to sing along even if you don't quite know what you're singing about. Meanwhile, "Race to the Bottom" takes a darker turn with its brooding instrumentation and haunting vocals, providing a nice contrast to the more upbeat tracks on the album. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows on "Heart-shaped Mountain". The album's middle section drags a bit, with tracks like "Two Doves" and "All with You" failing to leave much of an impression. But just when you start to lose interest, the band picks things back up with the infectious banger "Tell Me", reminding you why you liked Ha Ha Tonka in the first place. Overall, "Heart-shaped Mountain" is a fun and quirky album that showcases the band's talent for crafting infectious pop tunes with a twist. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's definitely worth a listen if you're in the mood for something a bit different.