Novillero, Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives

Funny name, but Novillero’s newest release Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives, is nothing but serious. These guys mean what they say and they aren’t holding anything back. Issues to do with broken hearts, politics, and life in general are all in evidence on this album, thrown together with no compunctions.

Made up of Sean Stevens on guitar and moog, Grant Johnson on bass, piano, and vocals, Dave Berthiaume on drums and vocals, and Rod Slaughter on piano/organ, bass, and vocals, Novillero as a whole has a wealth of talent. Their opinions are more than obvious, and the music is upbeat and entertaining. It really seems to draw all of your attention to them and forces you to really listen to their delivery and what they have to say. Trombones and trumpets make an appearance in “Dean,” a song about a self-centered actor (everybody can definitely relate, including myself), while the title track is a song about fulfilling our lives with materialistic items as opposed to just being happy with ourselves.

Beyond the lyrics, Novillero brings an array of musical genres to the table. “The Hypothesist” brings a mix of ska and modern rock, along with haunting vocals. “Abbey,” on the other hand, seems to be inspired by The Beach Boys or The Beatles; it combines catchy keyboard hooks and poppy lyrics to which everyone can relate. Novillero’s certainly their own kind of band — their unique, original compositions and the freedom to speak their collective mind makes them a band worth getting acquainted with.