Hippo Campus – LP3

Review Score:

B

The Unprecedented Times –

April 13 / 2023

Hippo Campus was a mainstay on my iPod classic as I walked the hallways of my middle school. Scrolling through my playlists, you would have seen a variety of bands in the same indie realm. Few of those bands continued to release music that interested me as my taste expanded and changed. Hippo Campus is one of those happy few. Seemingly, they’ve grown at the same rate I have. Or maybe evolved is the more appropriate word. Either way, LP3 is a new sound for the band. Looking back on their previous two albums (and some EPs), you can draw the connections and see how they got to this point.

LP3 contains some of the band’s best songs and some of their most experimental. Thankfully, much of the experimental stuff works. I can imagine this ruffled some feathers for fans who had hoped for a lighter, more carefree sound like the one found on Landmark, the band’s first album. But I expect this will stand the test of time better than their previous projects. I enjoy their first two albums, but they (especially the debut) are very of their time. Landmark turned out to be aptly named. It came right at the peak of light, feathery indie rock’s popularity. Songs like “Way It Goes” and “Simple Season” fit the bill and get the job done. They avoid becoming lost in the sea of similar music. LP3, however, sets out to do something new.

The album begins with “2 Young 2 Die”, an ironic title that explores the songwriting trope found in a lot of popular radio hits. “Everyone thinks that they’re too young to die”. Hippo Campus’ return is wearier in tone than their past work.

Both this track and the one that follows have a glitchy sort of sound to them. This comes and goes throughout LP3, but gets put on the backburner come “Ashtray”, a guitar driven, indie/punk rock song with a more classic sound. 

It wasn’t until “Semi Pro” that I was really hooked. It leans closer to the familiar Hippo Campus sound while making use of some new ones. DeCarlo Jackson, the band’s trumpet player, joined in 2017. And when they use him, they use him well. The solo horn often adds a welcome change to LP3’s songs. Jake Luppen’s lead vocals are stronger than they’ve been in the past, even if understated at times. Filled out by Zach Sutton on bass/keyboard, Whistler Isaiah Allen on drums/vocals, and Nathan Stocker on guitar, the band sounds coordinated and enthusiastic about this new direction.

“Ride or Die” is probably the best song on the album. It’s a catchy, well written indie rock song. Following it is “Scorpio”, which has a strong melody that builds effectively on itself, supported by a shuffling drum machine beat. The second half of the album is strong sonically even if the lyrics aren’t. Usually they tend to be passable. But the choral refrain on “Listerine” is questionable at best:

“You’ve got lips and I’ve got Listerine

But you can’t wash the fucked up out of me tonight”

Thankfully the album has a strong finish in “Boys” and “Understand”. The former has a soaring post-chorus with reverb heavy guitars. The verses have a pleasant cadence to them. The lyrics detail a life lived in excess, sung by a narrator in a moment of clarity. “Understand” builds on this theme. A soft, airy, digital piano underlines the intro. The singer pleads with a character named Ada, asking for transparency and communication in a complicated relationship: 

“I don’t care what we are, it just has to work.”

LP3 is a refreshing change for Hippo Campus. Fans of the band’s earlier material will still find something to enjoy here. The band demonstrates a willingness to try new things, even if LP3 is inconsistent at times. A strong run of tracks builds up to a satisfying conclusion that leaves the listener wanting more. 

Review Score: B

Gubb wrote this review. You can’t get mad at Gubb.