Debut album from St. Paul, Minnesota indie rockers Hippo Campus. Landmark documents Hippo Campus’ transition from high school band to sophisticated pop outfit, and the twin cities four-piece land somewhere between later-period Saves The Day and a modern Prefab Sprout (check “Poems” and “Boyish” and tell me Jake Luppen doesn’t sound like Paddy McAloon!). Bon Iver collaborator BJ Burton lends a hand to the band on production, and it shows: “Epitaph” resembles Justin Vernon’s signature warped vocal treatment, and most of the songs on Landmark nail the same artful arrangements and eye-watering crescendos as Bon Iver, Bon Iver. The majority of Landmark is full-on pop rock with the entire band plugged in, but a few intimate moments consisting of Luppen’s soulful croon coupled with a few dreamy synthesizer chords (“Monsoon”, “Vines”) are plucked straight from the Bon Iver playbook. This indie-exclusive limited pressing on yellow colored vinyl is housed in a #TTLhifi-worthy gatefold sleeve and comes with coupon for free download. 

• yellow colored vinyl pressing
• limited edition
• gatefold sleeve
• digital download included
• music label: Grand Jury 2017

reviewed by Kurupt FM Intern 05/2017