
Johnny Whitney and Cody Votolato may have lost a drummer in between their debut full-length Take Me to the Sea and now, but one listen to Hologram Jams will be enough to prove the duo can still crank out the jams regardless. At the heart, Hologram Jams is a cross between an edgy dance album and an over-the-top pop adventure, woven with the distinct vocals of Whitney to boot. What results is a solid album full of undoubtedly catchy melodies, thumping beats and enough variety to not end up getting bored with this disc after a couple listens.
Glimmering with beautiful hooks from the get-go, the two ex-Blood Brothers show a knack for creating catchy melodies that almost beg you to dance, as the chorus of “Polaroids and Red Wine” will prove. “Cherry Soda” kicks back and forth between two gears, giving us two sides of the bouncy concoction. Jaguar Love gets a bit funky with “Jaguar Warriors”, using interesting synth and drum lines to create a true standout in terms of sound. Meanwhile, “Evaline” shines like a diamond with a knockout beat and simple, yet on-target melodies, giving the vocals a palette to spread a plethora of excellent vocal work. Finishing the album off, “Piece of My Heart” sounds like a club remix of a hair-metal track, really pushing the melodies to the brink while Whitney projects his gritty voice through your speakers.
However, a few parts of this machine don’t quite run as well as the rest. “Don’t Die Alone” just sounds like it is missing something throughout its clap-backed, spacey-sounding melodies. “Everything is Awesome” has an out-of-place beat that makes the rest of the track seem foreign, making this a track that seems to take more work to enjoy then it should. Kudos for trying to make something a bit more complicated, but if it makes the rest of the track seem dull, maybe it is worth reworking.
Whether you liked Whitney’s voice from his earlier work or you enjoy a good dance album, Hologram Jams will be a great listen. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself whistling some of the melodies some odd days later though.[By: Jason Gardner]
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: March 2, 2010



































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