Before jumping into this review, I have a confession to make: I am not an unbiased party. I’ve had the privilege of watching the Dollyhoppers grow and develop, and I’ve also grown as an artist alongside them. They’ve been kind enough to be some of my first clients as an illustrator, and I’m so honored to have my work represent their wonderful music. With that disclaimer out of the way, on with the article!
After years of being a staple act of the DIY scene in Akron, Cleveland, and in between, the Dollyhoppers have delivered their first full-length release–The Warm Earth. There’s no defining genre in the area, with a number of unique acts, but the Dollyhoppers definitely come from a place of distinction. Their influences are broad–they have a baseline fuzz folk quality, with additional elements stemming from power pop to ska, midwest emo to baroque rock. They’re a band of ebs, flows, and huge swells–emphasizing the conflicting nature of all that’s around us, simultaneously recognizing the pain of loss and appreciating the beauty of what remains.
The Warm Earth has been in the works for over three years, finally coming to fruition in the midst of the pandemic. The long gestation period has not dampened the spirit of the release or the band, though. It’s been a battle to get just the right sound and mix–giving the songs the justice that they deserve. With dedicated work and perseverance, the Dollyhoppers have certainly achieved this goal and created a consummate record of these locally beloved songs.
The album begins with the title track, starting off tenderly with hints of the grandeur to come, building up to an instrumental climax that fades out and flows into the band’s biggest single: “Dirt”–a song so beloved that it’s been performed multiple times at one show. “Dirt” lives up to its name. The fuzzed guitar chords that carry the track add a rough texture, and the lyrics speak of the humble yet vital substance that connects us to the often wondrous natural world around us. “We Glowed” further expands on the lyrical content of the previous song, describing an emotional connection to the moon and earth. Hicks’ vocal harmonies perfectly compliment the wistful tones and instrumental build. The Warm Earth version of “We Glowed” amalgamates previous releases of the track, bringing together the homespun, intimate feel of the demo and the grandiosity of the single mix.
Unlike “We Glowed”, many of the songs on the album are previously unreleased. Despite this, they should be familiar to fans of the band. They’ve been part of the live set for quite a while, leaving memories of swaying and moshing and singing along. It’s a special thing to hear these songs come together as a cohesive artistic vision outside of the live context. Fan favorites like the energetic yet lyrically bittersweet “Green” are finally available at a whim. Many of the songs have come a long way from their initial versions, as well–”Towers” feels especially rich with the addition of piano chords. “Yard” has also gained a lot of detail since it first debuted at the house venue Bless This Mess back in 2018. It really goes to show how far the Dollyhoppers have come–adding members to their lineup, honing which details bring each song to its fullest potential.
The contrast between the bombastic “I’ve Walked With the Giants” and the slower burn of “Battle” highlights the duality of the Dollyhoppers. Each song is meant to be a journey–there’s no specific structure that songwriter Dyson Hicks is beholden to. Each song communicates the ideas behind it with every aspect of itself. Even the structure of the album gives way to the underlying ethos of the band. “Dirt” part one and two bookend the album as the second and penultimate tracks, respectively conveying elation at connection with nature, and mourning at the constantly decaying state of the world around us. But, to round it all off, the shanty-like and punchy closer, “A Life Is Waiting” passionately asserts that, yes, bad things happen but “we mustn’t wait, a life is waiting” to be lived.
Despite the delays and the challenges of being a small artist, the Dollyhoppers persevered and released a truly wonderful work of art. Personally, it will always have a dear place in my heart as a marker of the times of house shows and true DIY spirit. The Warm Earth seems to have been well worth the wait, not only for the audience, but for the band itself.
