How To Make Friends By Telephone is the third album by Akron Ohio based jangle pop duo Librarians With Hickeys, who appear to be obsessed with the golden era, when people actually spoke on the phone for hours, rather than texting. They are Ray Carmen and Mike Crooker with help from Joe La Rose on a couple of tunes.
The album starts obviously with Hello Operator taking us back to a golden time, when you could easily get through to an operator and have a conversation with them, trying to make a connection other than with whoever your trying to call, this has jangling guitars striving to seal the deal, rather than being asked to press one for Love, press 2 for hate, press three for quiet, or press 4 to speak to a humanoid.
Listening is encouraging us to do more of my favourite occupation, sitting Listening intently to the Radio or stereo, finding new songs and music you love, often done late at night hoping another record grabs you.
You Don't Know Me is a close sounding indie pop anthem, for someone who may have thought they were having a fling with you, while you actually thought it was a lot more than that, this lush power pop tries to get the message across that this should be a far more long-term thing than a fling.
No More Goodbyes they have had far too many of those lately, its' time for some jangling permanence, they have had enough of shallow chit chat, seeking more depth, so perhaps calling another chat line, or is it an party line was perhaps a wrong call.
Out Of Your Hair is making it clear that they are happy to leave you alone, after talking all night, during the cheap late night call rate, they will actually Stay Out Of Your Hair the way this makes them feel is made clear, with the downbeat strings wrapped around those spry guitars.
Brand New Boyfriend has made the ex they still love so happy, that it's time to skulk away into the background, allowing your jealousy at her happiness get the better of you won't help. Obviously, she doesn't want you hanging around drooling with your tongue out anymore.
Mirror is about what you see at the end of the road reflected at you, with a bass run helping to make clear just what your reflection shows.
Have You Heard was one of the most repeated phrases on late night phone calls, scandal unfolds, the strings make clear all the heartache that comes from the lies you tell each other, in between cries of Have You Heard this could almost be an up-dated less tawdry version of Lou Reed's New York Telephone Conversation.
The album closes with Ship To Shore the call breaks up as they desperately try to say enough to save them from the murky depths to which they are sinking.
Find out more at https://orcd.co/lwh-htmfbt https://bigstirrecords.com/librarians-with-hickeys https://www.facebook.com/librarianswithhickeys https://lwh1962.wixsite.com/librarianswithickeys
