SYFFAL: If you were a flavor of Chapstik brand Chapstik which flavor would you be and why?
KF: Original, because it’s a time tested sturdy flavor. None of that flashy here today gone tomorrow taste business.
Serious Business Rock and Roll Revue III with Higgins + Benji Cossa + The Unsacred Hearts + Rocketship ParkTimeOut NY says, “Serious Business, a local label devoted to the dying art of unpretentious guitar pop and other handmade styles, stages a family-style revue featuring mix-and-match personnel, lovingly chosen cover tunes and more. (Look out for wistful, psych-leaning indie-pop crew Higgins, supporting a new SB full-length, Straight A’s.)”
THANKS to Tris McCall for delivering this thoughtful review of HIGGINS’ Straight A’s for the NJ Star-Ledger:
Straight A’s
Higgins
(Serious Business)
Those familiar with the High Llamas will know what I mean when I say that “Straight A’s,” the new disc by Higgins, is to “Zs,” their last, as “Hawaii” is to “Gideon Gaye.” Kevin Fish, Higgins’ principal songwriter, will: He shares with the High Llamas an appreciation of the impressionistic side of the Beach Boys and the impish, provocative side of the Grateful Dead. “Straight A’s” lacks the splashy instrumental rave-ups that made “Zs” so much fun. But by sticking to Higgins’ true strength — subtly magnificent pop melodies, Beatlesque vocal harmonies and graceful arrangements that scream of perfectionism but never sound less than relaxed — the band has topped itself. Every detail is framed for maximum impact: the thumping piano on “Satch Lab,” the portamento synthesizers and fuzz guitar on “Easy Thing,” twinkling music-hall spinet and rich strings on “T and T,” rattling percussion and slow-decaying snare hits by imaginative drummer Brian Kantor on “Never Here.” The productions are grand, but quietly grand; Higgins lets the band’s craftsmanship speak for itself. If you’re the sort of listener who pays attention to detail — and has the patience to let an album unfold at its own pace — Higgins may be the group for you.
— Tris McCall
Higgins just celebrated the release of Straight A’s with a show at the Rock Shop. Tim from SYFFAL was there. He posted a vid of “Easy Thing.” Here’s a concert review too: “balls out awesome” … read it!
THE SERIOUS BUSINESS ROCK AND ROLL REVUE III: NYC
SAT MAY 26 2012 @ LITTLEFIELD
starring
BENJI COSSA, HIGGINS, ROCKETSHIP PARK, THE UNSACRED HEARTS plus special guests.
Get tickets.
At Littlefield on May 26, 2012, the collective of songwriters and musicians who rally under the proud banner of SERIOUS BUSINESS RECORDS will mount the third in a series of themed rock and roll revues, with this installment billed as celebration of the music of and about our fair metropolis, New York City, from the Brill Building to the Bowery, from the lights on Broadway to Rockaway Beach.
The program of entertainment for will draw from both the vast original catalogs of Benji Cossa, Higgins, Rocketship Park and The Unsacred Hearts and a meticulously curated syllabus of NYC classics spanning a century. Contributing extra spice to the gothamized brew of rock and pop will be a special coterie of musical guests and a post-revue NY dance party. Brooklyn artist Kara Smith will ovesee the visuals.
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]
HIGGINS is here taping an episode of the serious business program on @breakthruradio / taste this
HIGGINS: You Don’t Like What I Do
from the higgins album STRAIGHT A’S
new higgins video directed by jake lyons starring andy nauss, both men.
the arrival of green-ass vinyl. HIGGINS’ Straight A’s. Get on this. (If you’ve already ordered it, it’s-a-coming.)
On Straight A’s: “Kevin Fish might be a fucking genius…He is masterful…It is a damn near perfect indie pop album.” - SYFFAL
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
“Slap or Pinch” is from Higgins upcoming LP Straight A’s which will be out 5.1 on Serious Business.
