Hunters, Run! “Forgotten Souvenirs Of The Modern Age” (Battle Standard 2008)
Hunters, Run! is one of those bands that wears their influences so proudly on their independent sleeves that it’s next to impossible to enjoy them on their own merits. While they are a more than competent five-piece rock band that enjoys dropping an unexpected sound or two into the foray, I really can’t get past thinking of them as a group of guys that are entirely too enamored with the late period Husker Du records in their collection to do much of any “coloring outside of the lines”.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to just be a straight-up rock band that sounds similar to the groups you idolize. Without it, we’d have no rock and roll whatsoever. But really, no matter how many harmonies and xylophones the band introduces during their new record, Forgotten Souvenirs Of The Modern Age, you can’t really get past the fact that Larry Hess sings a whole hell of a lot like Bob Mould. These cats could even pass for a slightly more melodic Fluf.
If I went into any more detail on Hunters, Run!, I’d simply be drawing more comparisons. The best I can say about them is that they are a tight unit on record, and I was entertained throughout their new forty minute platter. I’d imagine the band translates better in a live setting, and I can only hope that one day they run into a producer than can make Hunters, Run! sound more like… well, Hunters, Run!