HANGNAIL “HC” PHILIPS hails from Newark, Delaware, and thankfully has been around long enough to create music that is impervious to fm-radio wannabe singer/songwriter posturing. Evidently he’s been playing every instrument under the sun in a host of different bands since the mid 1960s. Judging from his website, his bands have traversed every musical style from 60s psychedelia to new wave goofiness and everything in-between. But even without checking his history, it’s obvious from the material presented on “Wit’s End” that HANGNAIL PHILLIPS possesses a flair for traversing different musical styles with ease.

Practically every song on “Wit’s End” explores a totally different style of music. “Angora Sweater” is a fun 50s-style rocker complete with wailing sax accompaniment. “Lillian” is a swingin’ big-band sort of affair like the old Glen Miller arrangement. “Post Cold War World” is a boogie rocker a la J GEILS BAND. “Hangin’ on a String” sports a roots-rock vibe, not unlike THE JAYHAWKS or something you’d hear from a TOM PETTY album, and the hidden bonus track “I Always End Up Coming Back to You” is a gorgeous country- duet with fellow Delaware songwriter Monika Bullette. You get the idea. Lots of diversity, and despite the differences in style, not a single track on the disc sounds ‘stretched’, like he's out of his natural element. Plus he’s not afraid to take things to the outside. The disc includes gobs of weird garbles and giggles thrown into the mix and a crazy track called “All Tied Up”, which features loops of long-winded answering machine messages and ringing telephones.

Interestingly, this entire CD can be easily acquired for free by going to the HANGNAIL PHILLIPS website below, where he has kindly posted each MP3 for your listening pleasure. It’s intriguing to imagine what HP’s live show must be like. With such an interesting looking back catalog and such a mastery of different styles, any covers he would choose to weave in could make for one hell of a show. And it could be totally different every night. At any rate, grab these tunes and send us an email if you get a chance to check 'em out live.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.hangnailphillips.com

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