Ladyhips

“In the Ballroom” rides a breezy backbeat topped with swirls of wah-wah guitar, punchy horns and whirring organ, along with a pretty sweet keyboard breakdown in the middle. Bassist Sean Rubin sings in feathery tones that grew in power as the song builds to a booming climax. - Listen, Dammit

This is a much more serious and dramatic song than we are used to from Ladyhips and further shows off their versatility and experimentalism. - CT Indie

Live at Farmtone is the kind of record to put on while driving with the sunroof down as Spring begins to swallow us in beautiful splendor, much like these songs do. - Lonesome Noise

You've already heard the triumphant brass hook of "Ballroom" and the psychedelic crunch of "Racket." On "Westmoreland," the guys slow things down and turn off the wah-wah pedals, eventually culminating the ballad-of-sorts with a two-plus minute guitar solo. "Our Consience" ends things on a high note, opting for another washed-out guitar solo after lamenting "I'm sorry for your loss" on the song's hook. - The Deli New England

The jazz-infused sophisti-pop of Ladyhips is a breath of fresh air, unforced and breezy in its smattering of hooks and polished musicianship. Based out of Hartford, Connecticut, Ladyhips’ new album Best Friends is available to download for free — as a thanks to family and friends who helped with the album, as it is aptly named. To give a sense of the album’s scope, the four-piece lists influences such as James Brown, Charlie Parker, Bob Dylan, and J.S Bach. It would be an interesting dinner party, to say the least. From the lush seafaring folk of “The Boat Song” to the bluesy acoustic stomps of “Westmoreland”, Best Friends is packed with a variety of engaging sounds molded by diverse influences and styles. One of the most fascinating is the opener, “Degrees of Separation”. Swirling keys immediately enforce their stunning jazzy presence, the keys emitting a reflective and arpeggiated tone over gentle acoustic caresses. Sean Rubin’s airy vocals are a nice fit for this lounge-y, jazz-infused accomplishment. Incorporate Some By Sea’s love for jazz-adorned arrangements with Andrew Bird’s charismatic acoustic presence, and you have something in the realm of Ladyhips’ Best Friends, an album that I recommended you downloaded — for free, no less. - Obscure Sound

This album is a strong debut from a band that already has an abundance of promise. Their command of their craft matched with their obvious love of so many sounds has crafted a wealthy collection of songs that you should get your hands on as soon as you can. - CT Indie