EP review: Mount Righteous’ Open Your Mouth

by Staff of The Gobblers Knob

Several DFW area blogs have already discussed these folks recently, but I figure there are a few out of towners that still haven’t heard the word on Grapevine’s Mount Righteous. Their new EP, Open Your Mouth, is a gem of a Marching Band Pop disc. The band refers to their sound as Baroque Pop, but I like Marching Band Pop better.

Trombone, big-ass drums and even an accordion (I think) are showcased here. For the most part, this infectiously fun record is rather tuba-intensive. The heavy blows of the tuba are well-suited to the shouted and harmonious vocals of the group. At times, the group of singers team together and remind me of another interesting band from this area, Polyphonic Spree. In fact, lyrics like “I got a car, look at me, fancy free” sound really cool and whimsical instead of mundane or random, when performed in the jubilant arrangements that dominate the EP’s overall sound. I really think the relatively short length of a five-song EP works best in the case of Mount Righteous, as the small amount of songs help the band avoid a bombastic monotony that would likely take place over the course of a 12-13 song LP.