Jerry Joseph sure is heavy, no doubt about it. It’s also a good thing big boy David Schools’ thunderous bass lines were the rhythmic foundation in Holy Happy Hour, the debut from The Stockholm Syndrome. What started off as a creative recording session spearheaded by Joseph and the Widespread Panic bassist Schools, quickly warped into a full-fledged band. Set out on fulfilling their mission of songs that sounded like songs, instead of placing jam noodlings over words, these two have indeed broken forth with a record that aches of pain and soul, yet has its moments of sunshine.
Engineered by Terry Manning (ZZ Top, Big Star, Led Zeppelin), Stockholm Syndrome brings a rough and tumble approach to their compositions, where Joseph’s voice booms of Springsteen toughness - bitter, haunting and convincing. The rest of the band: San Francisco based guitarist Eric McFadden, German keyboardist Danny Dziuk and L.A. based drummer Wally Ingram, well they just help add meaty pounds to these 12 songs. Collectively, they gel with garage band ferocity and jazz sensibilities, while tangling the emotions and convictions Joseph anguishes, through true ego hiding.
The opener, “Counter Clock World,” rocks with only the fury expected from Joseph, featuring stormy metal overtones. On the revealing, “Empire One,” Joseph reveals his inner warrior with such stinging lines as - “Ask me if I’m lying, hell yeah, I’m lying/I’m a liar baby, that’s what liars do.” “Tight” rocks in traditional red, white, and blue fan-fare, with its catchy sing along chorus, and “Purple Hearts” relaxes in Steely Dan fashion jazz rock. Surely the band can cross different sound spectrums, including a few castaways – most noticeably the calypso “Bouncing Very Well” and the reggae flavored “Sacks Full of Hearts,” that almost makes Joseph appear, dare I say “soft.” However, the band is at its finest by keeping it loud, as in the triumphant “Couldn’t Get It Right.” With its nasty blend of funky hard rock, and nitty gritty 70’s chorus, this just might just be Stockholm Syndrome’s calling card to keep this heavy thing going.
