We review Hootie & the Blowfish‘s new album Imperfect Circle – out on November 1st via Snakefarm Records.
After 14 years, Hootie & the Blowfish are well and truly back with their new 13-track record Imperfect Circle, an energetic and immensely enjoyable record, led with their signature roots-rock sound tinged with a more strong streak of country than was present in their previous records. It is a welcome return from a band who have managed to keep a legion of fans to their cause, even in the time spent away. When the record was announced, there was building anticipation to see just how the group would fit back together after all these years, especially with Darius Rucker’s years in the country industry. However, this record demonstrates a more mature, confident and new sound from a band that have managed to firmly carve their own place in the musical scene. Even in the themes that the band take on in the tracks, there are newer calls for positivity and unity without appearing self-righteous – a position that can only be taken by a mature and thoughtful band – including on the track ‘We Are One.’ Love though is the transcendent theme on the record from the off in track ‘New Year’s Day.’
Although the major part of the record was written by the band itself, there are some big songwriting stalwarts thrown into the mix, including Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers on ‘Hold On’ and Ed Sheeran on the huge track ‘Wildfire Love’ – that features a gorgeous guest vocal spot from Lucie Silvas, an incredibly shrewd and surprising choice. This is the stand-out track on the album for me and is also a reminder of just how damn good the band works together with Rucker at the forefront with his strong and distinctive vocal that has harnessed a stronger country twang in the years spent on the country circuit. Another stand-out moment is provided by new track ‘Miss California’ that paints a picture as much of a person as much as of a place, and is a gorgeous perfectly-placed ballad that plucks on the heartstrings, as does track ‘Not Tonight,’ that is a devastatingly tender portrayal of a woman not obsessed with material wealth.
Upbeat track ‘Turn It Up,’ features as an easy-breezy number – accompanied by swelling horn reminiscent of the streets of New Orleans – as does ‘Half A Day Ahead’ that both feel like a return to the early days of Hootie, though grounded both in the current climate and in the maturity of the band as they now are. It feels like the band have really had no time apart, fitting seamlessly back together with their strong and faultless harmonies, including on ‘Lonely on a Saturday Night’ – they have clearly got back into their groove of creation together and the results have paid off.
As a record it starts off where Looking for Lucky ended, picking up with their sonic signature, however in the intervening years it has definitely picked up a slight country twang. Situated neither in country nor rock though, it is still evident that this is a Hootie record through and through and the results are comforting nostalgia yet grounded firmly in the present. With tender songwriting, solid harmonies, riffs and a chemistry within the band that permeates the ears, we hope it is not so long again before another Hootie release.
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About Hootie & the Blowfish
With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker plus the gleeful harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Hootie & the Blowfish have to date sold over 25 million records worldwide, after their infectious melodies hit the airwaves in 1994 with hits such as “Hold My Hand”, “Let Her Cry” & “Only Wanna Be With You”.
The quartet met at the University of South Carolina where endless gigs at frat houses and bars built a major local buzz. Their blend of pop, folk, blues, soul and rock made them hard to pigeonhole, but easily accessible to anyone who loved good music.
Atlantic Records, impressed by their regional draw, signed them and released Cracked Rear View in 1994. The album had been out for six months before the band played on the Late Show with David Letterman, which sent sales skyrocketing – the album eventually landing at No. 1 on the Billboard chart the following spring.
Cracked Rear View and the band went on to win two GRAMMY Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, plus multiple People’s Choice Awards. It also won the group Billboard‘s ‘Band of the Year’ Award in 1996 along with the RIAA’s Diamond Award for sales in excess of 10 million units. Cracked Rear View remains the fifth most certified studio album in music business history.
The band remained a top draw nationwide and released five more albums for Atlantic: Fairweather Johnson, Musical Chairs, Scattered, Smothered & Covered, Hootie & the Blowfish and The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish, as well as Looking For Lucky on their own Sneaky Long Records and LIVE in Charleston, The Homegrown Concert Event DVD & CD.
The band took a break from full-time touring in 2007, reuniting annually for a variety of philanthropic events whilst also pursuing solo projects. 2019 marked their first full-time touring year in over a decade as they embarked on the Group Therapy Tour ahead of Imperfect Circle, their first new album in nearly 15 years, due out November 1st on Snakefarm Records in the UK.
