Glass Harp isn't likely to be a familiar name to many people younger than 40. If you know who Glass Harp are, then it probably doesn't matter what I say here, unless you didn't already know that Hourglass, their first studio album in almost thirty years, is coming out in August.
Since I'm just a twenty-something college kid, Glass Harp was around just a little bit before my time, and I'm not at all familiar with their previous work. However, I did recognize the name of the guitarist- Phil Keaggy, an accomplished rocker who went on to a successful solo career after Glass Harp disbanded in 1972. The Harp's reunion is anything but another showcase for Keaggy, though, who tends to indulge only in very minimalist solos here and there. In fact, the production of the album as a whole tends towards simple understatement, leaving plenty of room for rocking out when the songs are played live.
There is plenty of variation among the sixteen tracks, which the band's website describes as a "tasty musical stew." "7 in a box" opens strongly with a bluesy guitar floating over a crazy 7/4 riff that defies categorization. Glass Harp's 60's roots naturally show through in places; "You whisper something" has vocals reminiscent of the Byrds. Meanwhile, "Lupins'" is a short study in drum loops and synthesizers which fades into the rock anthem "If love is all we’ve got."
Hourglass's weak spot is in the lyrics, which, while uplifting and inspirational, are occasionally trite and sugary. The worst offender is the chorus to "Everlasting light:" "I know that you will be/My everlasting light/Shine for all to see/Like a star at night."
Overall, Hourglass is a decent album, but with 16 tracks, it wouldn't have suffered if one or two of the weaker songs had been dropped. It should definitely appeal to anyone who likes old fashioned rock, and it has enough variety that fans of other genres are likely to find something to catch their attention. A must have? Perhaps not, but if you buy it, Hourglass won’t be a waste of your money.
Blogcritics has an exclusive 4-track MP3 sampler available here for just $3, and there are also other Blogcritics reviews from Jim Schwab, the Theory, and Dan Hersam.
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