Hippo Campus — LP3 — Album Review
Indie | Rock
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Hippo Campus were a band that I was fortunate enough to be introduced to with an amazing live performance back in early 2019. Designed to show off many of the songs of their 2018 album Bambi, this live show was one of the last that I reviewed under the ex-music magazine turned radio station BrightonsFinest.
After that, I was keeping my eyes and ears open for any new material that the Minnesota indie rock band had up their sleeve. The next time I would hear material from Hippo Campus, would be in the form of their five-track EP Good Dog, Bad Dream, which arrived in 2021.
To my disappointment, this EP wouldn’t match the sonic splendour of Bambi whatsoever, and instead felt both generic and messy. This made for a short musical experience that served as one of the worst EPs I had heard last year.
But all hope was not lost; Hippo Campus had turned the yearly page to fill in 2022 with their third studio album, aptly named LP3.
I had not listened to any of the four teaser tracks for this new LP; most likely as a result of the disappointment I felt as a result of last year’s EP. However, I at least wanted to go into the full album with an open mind.
It’s definitely safe to say that LP3 didn’t need much time at all to serve as a great stylistic improvement upon Good Dog, Bad Dream. However, in comparison to an album like Bambi, LP3 still feels somewhat rough around the edges.
Where their 2018 abum felt polished, and carried enough unique quirks for Hippo Campus to establish a bit of an aesthetic with that project, LP3 unfortunately does not achieve the same kind of feat.
Quite a few of the tracks are still enjoyable, yes. However, quite the majority of it comes off as that typical fuzz-heavy indie. If I was at my harshest, much of LP3 comes off as something that feels like a cheap knock-off of The 1975 (a band that I’m not overly fond of anyway).
While a sense of promise does glimmer slightly with LP3, regarding a return to a sonic feel that feels a bit more unique to the band, I am still left feeling hungry for the exact thing in more complete form.
In essence, however, LP3 is still a decent album, with a select handful of tracks that are actually growing on me in terms of memorability, and are pretty great listens as well. Although I would’ve of-course loved this to have been the case with the greater chunk of the album.
What I feel is mostly missing, is musical depth and atmosphere; something that Bambi was rife with. I am hoping that with any future projects, that fans and listeners alike can see that element return.
Favourite Tracks: Blew Its | Ashtray | Semi Pro
Least Favourite Tracks: Scorpio | Listerine
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