When Philadelphian band Hurry expanded to a trio for 2014’ albums “Everything.Nothing”, there were two ways to view Matt Scottoline’s former solo project. A band making fuzzy, mid-fi indie rock. The other was as an offshoot of Everyone Everywhere who had released two truly outstanding albums .
Hurry’s third LP Guided Meditation sounds like a credibility bid for Scottoline’s fledgling new band. Their success is in their ability to be serious about frivolity, The difference is entirely present within a rerecorded version of “Shake It Off” which appeared on a stacked 2015 mini-Singles soundtrack for Philadelphia. Perhaps they figured since it would be associated with Taylor Swift anyways, “Shake It Off” removes anything that made the original sound bashful—the unnecessary feedback is sheared, the performance is significantly tightened, Scottoline’s vocals aren’t subject to the same fuzz as the guitars. And there you go: Hurry decided they’re really a power-pop band at heart, not indie rock.
Regardless of how much Scottoline’s love of Yo La Tengo or Guided By Voices influenced the writing of Guided Meditation, there is more in the lineage of the Posies and Matthew Sweet, acts who would’ve been considered pure pop had they existed in a different decade.
Hurry doesn’t overcomplicate things musically—they abide by the Weezer Method that states all vocal melodies should sound good as guitar leads and that instant gratification can be replicable gratification.“Love is Elusive” cruises through six-and-a-half minutes of flanger clouds towards a sunburst of layered harmonies,
Guided Meditation can be accused of being too simplistic, too sweet and unengaged with the present. But, really: isn’t being dumb and in love the most uncomplicated state of being? So when Scottoline sings, “I don’t even have to try when I’m with you/All the stupid things I say, you know they’re true,” it damn sure sounds like the truth.
The Fat Angel Sings 