HOLLIS AND THE MIGHTY MCGREGOR
Miss the Plane (self-released)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Hollis and the Mighty McGregor's album Miss The Plane hits on precisely what makes artists like Billy Bragg so successful: accessibility.

Hollis Webb and Andy McGregor met as University of Glasgow students at a pub open mic and from that formed a musical collaboration. Miss The Plane is the debut album spawned from those late night beginnings, said to be the result of a unique connection, numerous bags of fish and chips and maybe some kismet.

There is certainly the feeling of serendipity on Miss The Plane. Filled with joy and yet fearless in exploring the dark places, listening to Hollis and the Mighty McGregor is akin to walking in on that bar band you just can't break away from. There are hot guitar licks here and there, pianos and tongue in cheek lines both bittersweet and tickling. Miss The Plane isn't a cute effort though - it isn't the type of album that possesses that just enough home cooking to warrant a place on the shelf. Webb and McGregor's debut is ambitious, with cinematic sweet all its own, leering from requisites like lost love and barroom folly to the complexities of personal departure. Taken as a whole, Miss The Plane is a world-weary series of songs, which mine their own optimism for charm.

Heady stuff - makes me wonder where they got those fish and chips.

© 2003 - Erick Mertz