Half-Handed Cloud takes a page from the Danielson cookbook of song styling and throws in a few of its own insane ingredients. Actually, one would have to compare the record to Danielson, since there aren't many other bands with this alternative, eccentric style. Compounding the comparison is the fact that Dan Smith is putting the record out on his label and selling it at his shows.
The song structures and the way Half-Handed Cloud turns a verse are innovative, in a Danielson kind of way; and the guitar style is very similar to Dan Smith's. Danielson makes quirky music with odd twists and instrumentation, but the toy pianos and the glockenspiels fit the songs. But Half-Handed Cloud puts odd sounds and samples in every song, whether they fit the music or not. Sometimes Half-Handed Cloud's sound effects fit the song quite literally, like when he says something about poking your eye out and you hear a "pop... (sound of a rolling marble across the floor)..." But with too much strange sound just for sound's sake, a little restraint may have been a good thing. Still, the songs are short and sweet and this is good stuff.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadHere's the challenge that comes with reviewing Learning About Your Scale: trying to keep the use of the word "offbeat" to a bare minimum. Regardless of how you look at the album, that's the word that immediately comes to mind. Be it John Ringhofer's, umm, unique brand of Biblical exegesis, or the patchwork musical accompaniment, the only way to really describe this album is with terms straight…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithHalf-Handed Cloud singer/songwriter John Ringhofer is: (a) like Paul Simon on acid (b) completely nuts (c) a talented artist with a unique outlook at life (d) a mishmash of noise and random thoughts (e) all of the above. After a few listens of Learning About Your Scale, my answer to the above question probably would have been D). After a few more, I'm leaning a lot more toward E). Ringhofer has…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerHalf-Handed Cloud is the stage name of John Ringhofer, and Learning About Your Scale is an interesting blend of pop, experimental sampling, rubber ducks squeaking, birds chirping, and some wonderful wordplay. Acoustic guitar is at the core of most of these songs, but there are many other instruments and sounds thrown in. The length of these quirky tunes ranges from 18-seconds all the way up to a…Similar sounding releases
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