Since 2009, Ovlov’s transmissions have been sporadic, but they’ve always been impactful. The band’s early run of EPs established the Connecticut four-piece as a modern update on a certain strain of northeastern indie-rock. By the time the band’s debut album Am was released in 2013, Ovlov was getting comparisons to Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh tossed in their direction, and while those elements were certainly present in their sound, Ovlov always let catchy pop hooks slip into the mix too. On their third album, Buds, those pop elements are more pronounced than they’ve ever been before.
“I would like to think that the songs on this album are all pop songs at the core,” says Steve Hartlett, the band’s songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. On first blush, Buds won’t shock longtime Ovlov fans, but on repeat listens, those fuzzy, crushing guitars start to feel less like the central focus and more of a delivery system for Hartlett’s grander ambitions. “For the past few years, the number of rock bands I’ve been listening to has grown smaller and smaller,” says Hartlett. “Unfortunately, it’s the only genre and style I’ve ever really felt comfortable writing. That’s probably mostly because I write everything on a guitar. Don’t get me wrong, I love rock music—there’s nothing more satisfying than playing an E chord through a Big muff as loud as the amp will go—I just want to slowly progress into writing the most perfectly poppy of pop songs.”
Recorded with the same producer and engineer who has handled every Ovlov album, Michael John Thomas III at his Black Lodge Studio in Brooklyn, Buds is the latest document of Ovlov’s slow and sturdy evolution. But this time, the band’s become even more of a family affair. Though Steve’s long been riffing alongside guitarist Morgan Luzzi, the band was started with Steve’s younger brother Theo on drums. This time around, their older brother Jon joined them on bass—and their dad, Ted, even stops in to rip a sax solo on “Cheer Up, Chihiro!” Considering the Hartlett brothers learned how to play music together, it’s a full circle moment as they all come together in service of making Ovlov’s most fully realized statement yet.
Opening with “Baby Shea,” Hartlett lovingly reflecting on the bond’s formed at the beloved Brooklyn venue Shea Stadium, the album starts on a note of bittersweet appreciation. “Just as the majority of my songs are about the loss of either life or love, I think the majority of the songs on this album are as well,” says Hartlett. With a pounding backbeat and thick layers of guitar fuzz, Ovlov show they’ve lost none of their vigor in the years since TRU. But while loss permeates the record, there are moments of celebration, like “Cheer Up, Chihiro!” which sees Hartlett finally finishing the Spirited Away-inspired song he’s had kicking around since the Am days but could never get just right. “It’s always been one of my favorite songs that I’ve written, most likely because I can’t help but picture scenes from Spirited Away whenever I play or hear it.”
For Buds, Ovlov once again turned to Jordyn Blakely of Stove and Smile Machine to add additional vocals to the composition. But a couple chance meetings also brought a couple new voices to the fold. After meeting at Shea Stadium, Hartlett became close with Erin McGrath from Dig Nitty and invited her to sing on two of the album’s tracks, and a random Instagram message from Alex Gehring of shoegaze icons Ringo Deathstarr culminated in her contributing backing vocals to three songs as well. The result of this communal effort is a record that’s harmonious and powerful, as Ovlov work through a heavy few years with some heavy riffing and hearty hooks. Buds is dense and dark, but Hartlett’s assertion is dead-on: these are just big, bold pop songs. It’s still Ovlov, but a more assured version, one that isn’t so shy about putting their ambitions on full display.
Grass is Green are a Boston experimental rock/post-punk band featuring guitarist/vocalist Andy Chervenak, guitarist Devin McKnight, bassist Michael J. Thomas III, and drummer Jesse Weiss. The band’s origins began in a not-too-distant suburb of Washington, DC, and influences of both DC and Boston’s vital underground can be heard in their abrasive music and warped structures. Grass Is Green released their debut, Yeddo in 2010, introducing the basement scene to a discordant and angular blend of punk and indie rock while building a loyal following. The band have since grown notorious for their unforgettable shows, explosive energy and captivating dynamic shifts. A mere six months after Yeddo, Chibimoon arrived with Michael J. Thomas III (who also produced Yeddo) replacing original bassist Dario Olachea. The release expanded their songwriting in unforeseen ways and their tight live performances followed suit while they began playing larger shows.
In 2012, Grass is Green joined the Exploding in Sound Records roster and delivered Ronson, their most fully realized vision. Produced by Alex Prieto, the album featured a noted maturity in songwriting marked by their signature intensity and delivered at a satisfying pace. The band began taking on a personality of their own and emerged as one of Boston’s best live bands. Ronson was followed by Split Dicks, a split 7” with their friends and tourmates Two Inch Astronaut. They spent most of 2012 touring the country in support of the two releases opening for the likes of Melt Banana, Tera Melos, Joe Lally (Fugazi), and DD\MM\YYYY. They continued to tour throughout 2013 even being hand selected to open for Girls Against Boys w/ David Yow, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, The Coathangers and more while also taking time to prepare their next release. Vacation Vinny, coming in January 2014, was recorded at Silent Barn this past September with Julian Fader and Carlos Hernandez of Gravesend Recordings / Ava Luna. The effort promises to be another unpredictable auditory journey that captivates listeners with evolved musicianship. Ready your ears to experience the adventures of Vacation Vinny, arriving on Exploding in Sound Records.
