CoC : Hello Jackie - Unspeakable Territories : Review

Hello Jackie - _Unspeakable Territories_
by: Dan Lake (4 out of 5)

If Sleepytime Gorilla Museum had been expelled from art school for kicking too much ass, they might have sounded like Polish-Irish blender-babies Hello Jackie. On HJ's self-released _Unspeakable Territories_ EP, piano licks burble around supreme death noise chuggery, seventh-circle growls butt against pretty alto croons, terrifyingly percussive attacks (on all instruments) meet heady melodies, but none of the songs ever lose focus or wander away from the band's edgy strengths. As with the best integrations of beauty and beast, none of the transitions or part mash-ups feel forced or calculated. The natural energy flow between handsome drama and harshitude maintains constant listener engagement. All performances drown expectations as _Unspeakable Territories_ quickly becomes this writer's favorite surprise of the year.

Denizens of the heavy music world often rely on band monikers to steer their listening choices, a job which the name Hello Jackie performs abysmally. In fact, a quick Google of the name nets you an Alabama graphic designer's pastel-plastered website (not remotely metal). So, for now, let CoC take the wheel and guide you to this excellent EP. Who doesn't need twenty-four minutes of psychosis to round out their day?

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/hellojackie

(article published 7/10/2012)