Portland, Oregon’s HEMINGWAY have shared the music video for their song “Northwest” via AbsolutePunk magazine. The track comes from the band’s upcoming debut full length, Pretend To Care, due out September 30th via 6131 Records.
The quirky, Twin Peaks-inspired video compliments HEMINGWAY’s catchy brand of emotional alternative rock, and reminds us that a band can be melancholy without losing their sense of humor. From the chunky opening chords to the crashing, climactic closing swell, “Northwest” and it’s accompanying video are a great snapshot of the dynamic and affable band featured on Pretend To Care.
Lots of bands have been mining the fertile landscape of ’90s music for inspiration lately, and HEMINGWAY is no exception. What sets this Portland, Oregon band apart though is what they’re tapping for influence, reaching deep into the lesser known realms of that decade and extracting elements of infectiously melodramatic pop. Think Silver Scooter, Superdrag, and Knapsack, yet filtered through nearly two decades of collected dust and bargin bin obscurity. Some might call the music HEMINGWAY creates “emo” but to do so relegates their heartfelt creations to something less than genuine and authenticity is something this band has unmistakably.
With the release of their debut album, “Pretend To Care”, HEMINGWAY put forth ten tracks of heart-on-the-sleeve pop goodness that simultaneously feel sunny yet full of melancholy, a dichotomy essential in the most masterful of ’90s releases too. Recorded by Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Tony Molina, Deafheaven), the sonic quality of “Pretend To Care” matches the great songwriting contained within.
