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A while back, when I was having a particularly bad day, I got an email from a friend, suggesting the perfect remedy. The email contained a link to what he guaranteed was just the song to make me feel better. The link sent me to YouTube.com—to the video for “Generator” by The Holloways. And he was right—after watching it, I couldn’t help but smile. I’m sure the video full of clowns could have helped lift my spirits—but, mostly, it was the song. “Generator” is, by far, the perkiest, happiest, most upbeat new song I’ve heard in a long, long time. It’s also one of the catchiest. As soon as you hear the opening lines (“I can get a record player…and a generator…generate the music that makes you feel better.”) there’s no way you’re getting it out of your head for the rest of the day.
After becoming altogether addicted to “Generator,” I had to give the rest of The Holloways’ album, So This Is Great Britain?, a try. And it definitely starts out strong. After the album opens with the pop-punk title track, an anthem the fading greatness of the country, the foursome breaks into “Generator,” followed by yet another infectious track, “Dancefloor.” The songs are fast-paced and irreverent—the perfect pick-me-up when you’re having a bad day.
One after another, the catchy, feel-good tracks just keep coming. The punk, Brit-pop, and even rockabilly influences make for some high-energy songs. This is the stuff that you can imagine singing at the top of your lungs after a few too many pints at the pub.
Or at least that’s the case for the majority of the album. The last tracks on the album—while still fun and generally danceable—aren’t nearly as memorable as the album’s earlier tracks. In fact, while So This Is Great Britain? is one of the first albums that I reach for when I get in the car (especially on bad days, of course), the last half or so of the album just seems to fade from my memory. And, looking at the titles of the last few tracks, I can only actually remember what one of them sounds like.
Despite the less-than-memorable second half, though, the first half definitely makes up for it. And, if the music weren’t enough, the enhanced CD also includes a couple of music videos—one of which is the clown-filled “Generator” video that I love so very much. So if you’re prone to the occasional bad day (or perhaps the occasional Monday morning), you’ll want to check out The Holloways—because they’re just what the doctor ordered.
