Send "Hopewell " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Drownedinsound |
 Despite having been active for a good decade, releasing four albums and several EPs along the way, Brooklyn quintet Hopewell are still something of an unknown quantity outside of their own backyard. Initially formed by Jason Russo and his brother Justin at the back end of the Nineties, the two are perhaps better known for their brief stint as members of Mercury Rev. The pair put Hopewell on hiatus for this interim period before the younger of the two, Justin, finally dispensed with both projects to form his own band, The Silent League. For elder sibling Jason, the time he spent playing bass with Jonathan Donohoe et al seems to have opened up a whole new world of possibilities, not to mention reining in a host of contacts from more auspicious backgrounds. What this meant was that 2005's Hopewell And The Birds Of Appetite, their first release on celebrated psyche/shoegaze outlet TeePee Records, saw them draw on influences far and wide - not to mention utilize the production skills of the Rev's Dave Fridmann - to create something of a concept album, only without all the pretence and general pomposity normally associated with such an entity....full text |
| Blogcritics |
| Wearing their Jane’s Addiction and Flaming Lips influences on their sleeves, Hopewell springs into action with the winding opus that is Good Good Desperation. With plenty of peripatetic psych-rock stuff to please every peyote-using hippie out there, this New York City outfit’s latest intrepidly keeps the conception of the “full album” alive with this pleasing set of ten songs. Founded by Jason Russo, who played with Mercury Rev on tour, Hopewell meshes the epic psychedlica of Rev and Flaming Lips with the sound of acts like Dungen and Dead Meadow. The band has an extensive touring history, opening for My Bloody Valentine on their recent reunion tour and knocking out audiences at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Good Good Desperation sometimes runs the risk of getting ahead of itself and overusing the electronic music grab bag, but Russo and Co. pull back on the reigns at all the right moments. A chunk of guitar or an inspired drum fill saves a few tunes from running off the rails and builds towards a thick progressive rock edge....full text |
| Treblezine |
| In recent years, Brooklyn has established itself as the musical epicenter for all things indie. Being a local myself, I can't say that I'm disappointed. Animal Collective, MGMT, Suckers and Yeasayer are just a few of the bands to come out of the charming New York City borough, and more importantly, are bands that have made substantial commercial and/or critical impacts recently. Brooklyn quintet Hopewell can be added to that list following their recent release, Good Good Desperation. The band lists a plethora of musical influences, as is obvious from their compositions. The harmonies on opening track "Preamble" are reminiscent of Pink Floyd, while the title track hints of Zeppelin—heavy on guitar chords, with a steady drum beat and a splash of psychedelics. "Bury Me Standing" introduces a sitar, evoking George Harrison's latter day Beatles trips. "10,000 Black Masses" is the album's true standout, beginning with a steady intro of bass and what can only be described as a rhythmic car horn. Russo lays out subtleties in actual stories, as opposed to simply lyrics: "Born into a shit storm of hellfire and brimstone/ snatched from the manger by a perfect stranger and delivered unto you, thrust right into you." Jason Russo's voice is entrancing and powerful and commands attention with every note he hits. Hopewell channels the influences of rock gods past, while staying inherently relevant, using psychedelic elements to modernize their sound and bring it up to date. The choruses on "Over the Mountain" are executed at just the right time, in sync with the syncopated and, at times, tribal sounding drums....full text |
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