photo courtesy of Hat No Hat

Album Review of Hat No Hat: Hat No Hat

Hat No Hat is the eponymous debut album from – you guessed it! – Hat No Hat. If you’ve been around this blog at all over the years, you’re familiar with rockin’-meets-folky-meets-Americana singer-songwriter Jimmy Lee (James) Morris. He’s a seriously talented dude, and he’s half of Hat No Hat (with his son Archie Morris). The duo’s debut album really takes advantage of having 100% more guitarists than James had as a solo act. The energy, the rocking-ness! This is probably, definitionally, and Americana album (from a British duo), but it’s likely to appeal to rock fans well beyond the level its heaviest song due to the tempo and axework, as well as fans of genres like country, folk-rock, and several flavors of Americana.

image courtesy of Hat No Hat

The two main characters of Hat No Hat (Archie and James) were joined on this record by the talented Beth Lees (vocals/flute), Neil Williams (double bass), Max Gibson (slide guitar), and Joss Love (drums), who helped fill out the rich sound on the record.

The self-titled disc kicks things off with no-nonsense energy and a message we all need to take to heart but be careful not to scream along with, at least when we’re not alone and especially at work. That’ll be hard because it’s so fucking catchy! Oh, yeah, I should mention you might find yourself swearing a lot more after listening to this album, in part because of it’s memorable singalong album-opener “Not My Fucking Problem”!

photo courtesy of Hat No Hat

Oh, but there’s plenty more swearing. Well, at least on a couple songs. Third tune “Fuck Right Off,” for example, is quite an earworm itself, though I’d still give the edge to the album’s leadoff track. And still, I hesitate to tell you, these are even kind of tame compared to song seven, “Sweary Rant.” The only person appearing on this record who I didn’t already mention, by the way, Pat Bollard, sings the “Sweary Rant” vocals, helping give this track a flavor you won’t find elsewhere on the disc.

I think I’m giving you the wrong impression, though. I can’t even recall any swearing in James’ solo work – not saying there’s none, but it’s not prominent. Mostly, he’s a thoughtful singer-songwriter, and Hat No Hat continues in that vein. On the seven non-swearing-based songs, sure, but also a bit on the blue numbers, as well.

photo courtesy of Hat No Hat

In fact, “I Knew Everything” is a peppy light pop-rocker with some interesting intricacy to its bluesy-country guitarwork, while “Rat Race” has more of a noir-ish vibe (the sort that might fit in alongside songs from the Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League).

“Whiskey Blues” is also a standout, a bluesy twanger with lead vocals that, based on prior reviews – or near-reviews, in this case, as while James Morris has penned a couple, while I wasn’t able to get mine written within the necessary time frame – are very clearly the exceptional voice of Beth Lees. In any case, it’s a perfect fit for her vocals and adds some variety to the disc while fitting in with the overall Hat No Hat style.

Not to be outdone, the next song, “Monkey Brain,” is an energetic number that’ll soon have you singing along with the chorus because it’s catchy and fun, all while employing some usefully subtle guitar flourishes and a flamboyantly-picked guitar solo.

photo courtesy of Hat No Hat

“Horsefish,” a late-disc instrumental that follows “Sweaty Rant,” is a helpful palate cleanser, showcasing cool strumming with what sounds like flute (there’s Beth Lees again!) that kind of sounds snakecharmer-ish. Even those who are primarily lyric-lovers are likely to enjoy this nearly-two-minute music-only interlude.

Beth’s vocals play a key role in the penultimate song, the duet “Winter is Coming.” The guitars build the song’s power alongside the somewhat haunting vocals, with only a playfully-picked guitar solo briefly providing respite from the tension before it returns. The song isn’t necessarily ominous, though it could be construed that way, though it’s definitely a warning. Unlike anything else on this album – adjacent to the common thread but a little more psychedelic in nature – “Winter is Coming” is likely to be a subset of fans’ clear favorite among the ten songs in the collection.

And, speaking of the ten songs in the collection, the final, “Hoyer ’65” is another instrumental. It leans into the guitar picking but also carries the feeling of a closing musical signoff from an educational public television video. I worry I may have made this sound less cool than it is. Believe me, this is a neat way to end the record. Guitar players, I imagine, might particularly enjoy listening to its guitar-driven musical journey. But I, as a non-guitar-player, also really enjoy this number.

And that’s a wrap. I’ve gotta say, this is one of the favorite albums I’ve received for review in the last year. Sorry I’ve taken so long to write the review and share it with you, but the good news is that Hat No Hat is working on a second album right now, noting in a Facebook post a planned release date of July 3rd – so now you won’t have to wait as long to hear a follow-up to your new favorite band’s first record. Forget the apology, then; for saving you a long wait for your next fix, you’re welcome!