Sunday, 18 September 2022

Halfway To Holland

Halfway To Holland were a four-piece emo/indie/pop punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that were active from 2001 to 2004. They recorded a handful of tracks and self-released one album in that time.Though the material is solid, this band's legacy may have slightly shifted to the wayside if not for what three quarters of its members would do soon after. Halfway To Holland is the precursor to the one-and-only Algernon Cadwallader, who played a major part in kickingstarting the emo revival and are still and beloved and reverred band to this day, even reuniting this year after breaking up nearly a decade ago. Before all that, bassist/vocalist Peter Helmis and guitarists Joe Reinhart and Colin Mahony were Halfway To Holland (with Helmis and Mahony on inversed instruments in HTH). 

Sonically, they were a lot punchier and more driving than the noodly math rock that permeated Algernon's discography, with full chords, chunky palm mutes and only flashes of melodic guitar leads. They were a little more driving and conventional, which is why they often get lunked in with the pop punkier side of emo, which is still fantastic in its own right. This band does hold up on their own, and I'd recommend the self-titled to anyone that sounds appealing to on its own merit. It's just makes for an even more interesting listen knowing where these guys would go, especially now that they've finally returned. Enjoy.

1. The Most Convincing Letter
2. An American Ocean
3. From The Ankles Up
4. An Army Behind Me
5. It Comes With The Territory
6. In Good Taste

1. It Comes With The Territory
2. The Most Convicing Letter
3. An American Ocean
4. An Army Behind Me
5 In Good Taste
6. Intentionally Blank
7. From The Ankles Up
8. Together In Hopes
9. Not Quite Yet
10. To Be Frank I'd Have To Be Foley

1. Crimson Red
2. To Be Frank I'd Have To Be Foley
3. Leave The Claustrophobia To The Claustrophobians
4. Untitled
5. The Beast
6. Beating A Dead Horse
7. Poor English
8. Eight
9. No Souls
10. To Be Frank I'd Have To Be Foley (Demo)
11. Leave The Claustrophobia To The Claustrophobians (Demo)

1. To Be Frank I'd Have To Be Foley
2. Together In Hopes
3. The Page Is Intentionally Blank

1 comment:

  1. Fuck yeah I’ve been looking for downloads of this everywhere.

    ReplyDelete