Mansion on the Hill describe their new album Eye Hustling as a ten-song edifice of an album that punches, shambles and stomps to the beats of traditional, Americana, frenetic storytelling brimming with tongue-in-cheek social commentary. It’s the type of album that brings with it familiarity and nostalgia.
The album is full of well-written songs that feel immediate and raw. I felt this pull on the first couple of songs, the title track “Eye Hustling” and “The Girl (With the Flower Child Name).” The energy is palatable here and you can feel the band enjoying the moment.
“Bluest Skyes” offers a sentimental love ballad, with a subtle hint of irony that adds an intriguing dimension to the song. It’s the kind of composition that could set the mood just right.
“Chips and Divots” features a funk-infused jam session, while “Dirty Gold” maintains a relentless pace, thanks to a near-constant snare roll in the verses. An attention grabbing instrumental moment unfolds around the two-minute mark, where the bass and drums initiate a crescendo, culminating in what can arguably be labeled the album’s most striking guitar solo.
“The Man (With the Tie-Dyed Mind)” offers a notable guitar solo, reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s influence. Despite its soft and reflective nature, the song’s build-ups pack a substantial emotional punch. “Another Boy Wonder” hit me. The song is covered in melancholy. When a band does it right as in this case it can make you shed a tear. The piano and harmonics work really well here.
“Old Parquet” is solid all around. “When” is one of the best songs and in my opinion the most accessible song on the album. I loved the feeling I got when listening to this song for the first time. They close with the somewhat epic and ambitious “Keep In Step” which brings in some Latin style infused with an old Western sound.
Mansion on the Hill doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but they skillfully blend various musical styles into a cohesive and solid album. Eye Hustling is undoubtedly deserving of your attention.