After having seen them play live on two separate occasions, what I can say with all certainty is that these guys are not meant to be taken as seriously as their name suggests. With song titles like “Oh No!” and “Pants on Fire”, Boo Hoo is a band just looking to play, amused by self-mockery, and uninterested in any heavy-handed preaching. Opting instead for heavy-handed playing (of instruments, that is) and tongue-in-cheek humour, the Montreal threesome has put forth an admirable display of musical talent as their debut self-titled album.
With one member on drums and two on vocals and strings, the ten-song CD offers a variety of mixes for our listening pleasure, each song carrying its own individual energy. Although decidedly not a lyrically driven band, my impression is that their main focus is on exploring their musical boundaries. My favourite example of this might be the guitar riffs found in the album opener, “Laces.” My other album favourites include the single that first initiated me into the Boo Hoo experience, “Eff the Ineffiable”, and the above mentioned “Pants on Fire”.
Aside from instrumental variety, it truly makes for interesting listening to have two members on lead vocals, moving away from traditional band formulas, so that, whether by solo, duet or both, each song becomes unique in all facets. You never quite know what combination to expect, making Boo Hoo anything but boring.
