Hippo Campus’ fourth album is flooding with heart

The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.

I first discovered the Minnesota-based indie rock band Hippo Campus in 2019, right before the start of the pandemic. With ample time to sit and listen to music, their sounds, along with various other indie and alternative musicians, built up my refreshed taste in music that I have maintained to this day. Their previous album, the aptly titled LP3, resonated with me at the time for all of its talk of fatigue and self-destructive behavior, and now their next album, Flood, tugs at my soul once again, but in a much different way.

Back to Basics with a Warm Glow

It’s certainly not new for Hippo Campus to change their sound for a new album. This happens with almost every release, and the varied sonic range is what makes me love their music so much. Flood’s sound is characterized by a much more stripped-back approach to instrumentation compared to the synth-heavy soundscape of releases like LP3. Most of the songs on the album consist of your standard guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, with some occasional synth and even light orchestral elements. Combined with some tasteful reverb, the album irradiates a warm, inviting sound in each song, from the constant drums on “Paranoid,” to the upbeat riffs on “Madman.” The band’s vocalist, Jake Luppen, also does great with a less-processed performance on this album, really driving in that down to earth feeling in this album.

While the crowd-pleasing pop sensibilities may be toned down on this record, that doesn’t mean they’re gone altogether. In fact, these vibes have been refined to their best point yet. “Brand New,” “Tooth Fairy,” and “Madman,” are still full of the catchy hooks that Hippo Campus have mastered over the last few projects. I’m a particular fan of the chorus on “Brand New.”

A Kick in the Teeth

Alongside the more mature-sounding instrumentation comes possibly the most mature lyricism to come from the band. Flood retains the introspective nature that the band hasn’t feared to touch in the past, especially in their last 2 records, but this one strips away the angst and keeps it real. “Prayer Man,” “Flood,” and “Slipping Away” bring the weight of the world crashing down, while “Paranoid” and “Fences” touch on some deep insecurities, especially when it comes to dealing with a significant other.

Not everything is entirely doom and gloom though. The album’s first single, “Everything at Once,” invites the listener to just stop and take a deep breath, feeling the world around them. “Brand New” looks on the bright side of the end of a long-term relationship, choosing to dwell on how the speaker has grown now. Finally, the album’s closing song “I Got Time,” points out all the good things in a life, all while giving a much-needed reminder that we’ve still got so much ahead of us.

Close to Gold

All in all, Flood may be one of my favorite releases from Hippo Campus, possibly even being at the top. The tracklist is absolutely stacked with enjoyable songs, and the band’s new sound shows they have really matured over the years. My personal favorites off the album are “Everything at Once,” “Brand New,” and “I Got Time.” Not every song is made equal, though. With some songs flying high above the rest, some are bound to be the de facto bottom. While I think every song on this album is good, I was definitely the least thrilled with the slower songs “Corduroy” and “Closer,” but my experience was certainly not soured by their inclusion. In short, I think it’s about time for Flood Fall.