I love it. Other people don't. I haven't the faintest idea why anyone would like the Ugly Organ better. I love Domestica as much as the next guy but I think Happy Hollow is bigger, better and more stimulating.

I love Domestica and the Burst & Bloom ep, but I can't stand The Ugly Organ and I feel that Happy Hollow is even worse. Their interlocking rhythmic guitar is almost entirely gone, forced into the background in favor of Tim Kasher's meta-everything songwriting. On Domestica they were given equal share, which is what made that record so great and why I kept coming back to it again and again. When The Ugly Organ came out, I genuinely enjoyed it a couple of times and there are even a few songs that I still enjoy, but overall it just seemed like the music was fluff to support the overarching storyline. Normally I wouldn't fault a band for not rocking, but when they do it as well as Cursive used to then why fuck with a good thing. I tried listening to Happy Hollow, but it seemed to go down the same path of songwriting up front and music with bad horn parts in the background. I thought that's why Tim Kasher was doing that Good Life stuff. Now there is nearly no difference between that material and Cursive. It's completely disappointing.

I know exactly what you mean. I realize that Domestica is the most original and part of why I like Happy Hollow is that I hear echoes of that tightness. It's not a good Cursive record but it is an incredibly consistent and well-crafted record. Many reviews saaid that he failed at tackling big concepts like religion vs. science etc. but I think he did a great job. Simple language but ultimately effective.

i thought that lyrics were too obvious, the music too dull, and the passion too lacking for me to ever give this release from one of former favorite bands more than 3 listens. j-bris hit it on the head: i thought the good life existed so records like this wouldn't get made under the name cursive. a definite disappointment, but i've still got domestica, burst & bloom, and the ugly organ (in that order) to fill that niche.