While I would not have necessarily called Hippo Campus's past work carefree, in their most recent album Flood, the Minnestonan band's jaunty indie tunes have flaked away to reveal a relaxed and confident sound with an undertone of sober maturity. The album opener, “Prayer Man,” is a desperate call out, an admission of defeat, of a man who is simultaneously tired and still holding on for this undefined 'prayer.' As the guitar drowns out lead singer Jake Luppen's voice, we feel a crescendo of emotion building until it finally ceases, save for the drums, which act like a strong heartbeat, and a final shred of hope in growing up. 

Prayer Man

“Paranoid” follows “Prayer Man”’s sentiment as Luppen muses about the point of the band. Hippo Campus has faced a long battle in their music career, as they splashed onto the scene as an indie rock band and quickly found themselves uncomfortable with that identity. The lead single, "Everything at Once," was a bold choice for Hippo Campus, who, like many indie bands of the late 2010s, relied on catchy hits to be the pawns in their album's games of chess. "Everything at Once" opens like the first chapter in an autobiography, with lyrics harkening back to Luppen's childhood. The confession aspect of lyrics like "I grew up on 'white Jesus saves,'" and "Work hard, and it falls in place" are contrasted with "it's been draining your life." "Everything at Once" becomes the center of all Hippo Campus wishes to say with Flood. They assert they are no longer here to make catchy hits but to use their music to unpack their emotions. 

Hippo Campus - Everything At Once (Official Video)

It is clear that the flood in question is the waves of grief one feels, which are both incoherent and constant. This could take many forms, from the grief over losing a loved one, to the grief of living a life different from what you were taught. Gone are the days of catchy choruses and triumphant trumpets, and in choosing this new stripped-down sound, Hippo Campus showcases that the music they create reflects their meditations on their life. We are forced to bear witness to these shifts, and in turn make them our own. It's the music you listen to while moving to a new city, or perhaps moving back to your hometown; it's both a blank slate and a reminder of every decision that has led you to where you are today. This push and pull, the inherent dissatisfaction of making too many wrong choices in one's life, is what makes this record noteworthy.  

Flood sets out to be Hippo Campus' most authentic form, and the album represents their journey as a band and as best friends. However, four albums in, it is hard to tell if Hippo Campus have found their sound. There are no stand-out hits in Flood, only a consistent wave of lamenting lyrics and languid guitar riffs. As the 13-song album continues, it is hard to differentiate between the songs, with the instruments feeling as though they are playing only slightly different arrangements of the same tune. In many songs like "Tooth Fairy," the reverb added to Luppen's vocals creates a harshness to the music that could have otherwise been very calming. Even if this is an artistic choice, it leaves the listener with a grating feeling and doesn't allow Luppen's vocals to ever shine through. 

Hippo Campus - Tooth Fairy (Official Video)

The progression of Hippo Campus's multifaceted and occasionally unsuccessful discography is a perfect example of growing up. Punchy sounds and repeated lyrics give way to a tamer, more honest body of work. Unfortunately for the band, the more boring aspects of growing up can also be heard in the album. It makes one nostalgic for the days when their music contained the fervour of a twenty-something-year-old begging for fame. By switching band member DeCarlo Jackson’s instrument from the trumpet to an acoustic guitar, Hippo Campus have lost the edge that made them different from their indie rock peers. They have become consumed by their genre rather than a standout of it. Ultimately, they are facing the very fate they feared: becoming lost to the flood of generic indie rock.