Hard Lessons and a Suggestion for Time Magazine

By Michael M. on January 15, 2008 in mp3blog

There is a division in indie-rock: the serious and the humorous. Combined with self-reflective social commentary you can either get a austere band whining about their fans, or a group like the Hard Lessons who pokes fun at their own kind from with-in: Call it the postmodern-twee-theory. Take the opening line and chorus to See and Be Scene: “Now the boys, boys are wearing girls clothes,” It’s sung with that commonplace adorable boy-girl duet, pared with casio-keyboard riffs, a catchy blues melody and of course the venerable hand-clap. Loveable, fun, and clever. Although the underlying lyrical message seems to say “grow up,” their danceable energy makes me want to stay a kid forever.

This EP, B&G Sides Volume One, is from a series of four EPs each with three songs (making about the length of an regular album) Volumes 1 and 2 can be downloaded from their website. The first track, The Painter, is short and flows directly into See and Be Scene. Don’t Shake My Tree is an excellent strait ahead rock song with a bluesy guitar solo. It’s a ways off, but they are playing at the Triple Rock Social Club on March 5th in Minneapolis.

The Hard Lessons - The Painter

The Hard Lessons - See and Be Scene

The Hard Lessons - Don't Shake My Tree

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