Unpacking Hippo Campus’ new era - “LP3”

By: Amy Tang

“Sometimes I’m aimless, try my best to carry on these days with / A little bit of hope inside,” sings Hippo Campus frontman, Jake Luppen. For a lot of us, this melancholy lyric feels all too relatable and it’s only a taste of the many reflective themes present in the indie-band’s newest record, LP3. 

Since their last release in 2018 with sophomore album, Bambi, the Minneapolis group has been quite busy. In those four years, they’ve embarked on multiple tours stretching from the U.S. all the way to New Zealand, pursued their own solo side projects,––Lupin, Brotherkenzie, Baby Boys––unveiled a collection of recordings in Demos I and Demos II, and more recently, released an experimental EP titled Good Dog, Bad Dream last fall. Now, at last, Hippo Campus have come together again to expand upon a new era of sounds. 

Opening with “2 Young 2 Die,” the band doesn’t hesitate to tap into their electronic side. The track balances out its distorted beats with an overarching ambience, as Luppen contemplates on the grim reality of life and mortality. “Blew Its” similarly follows suit by further venturing into infectious poppy, synthetic soundscapes that were once unfamiliar to the ears. 

Reviving the band’s indie-rock roots, “Ashtray” has already proven itself to be a fan favorite. Between its upbeat tempo and guitar-heavy melodies, it’s only natural to keep this one on repeat. In keeping up with the playful tone, the album’s singles “Bang Bang,” “Semi Pro,” and “Ride or Die” do not disappoint. Though when looking behind the seemingly whimsical nature of “Semi Pro,” the lyrics tell a story of defeat as the song reveals their fears facing the uncertainty of the music industry due to the ongoing pandemic. 

Moving onto the latter-half of LP3, “Scorpio” draws listeners in with a clean array of instrumentals and repetitive riffs, making it another playful addition to the record. “Listerine” tags along in a delicate manner as Luppen’s voice softly guides us through the mellow track. 

Furthering the theme of adulthood dilemmas and complications is “Boys”. In an interview, Luppen describes the song as “bottoming out” and “sort of reaching your lowest mentality.” The chorus reflects this notion through wistful lyrics like “Same New York, it’s the worst / All these nights are a blur,” and “All this time down the drain / I’m the best at insane.” It’s one of those songs where you can’t help but play it at full volume in hopes that the lush, hazy verses can drown out everything else that’s going on in the world. 

Lastly, we reach “Understand,” a soft serenade where the band approaches the topic of love and the uncertainty that often comes with relationships. “Whеn'd we get so far away from what we wanted, babe? / Why'd we run away?” Luppen questions, before later reaching to the conclusion, “I don't care what we are, it just has to work / Where we end is somewhere far / Something hard to understand.” 

Wrapping up the album in 30 minutes, LP3 fluidly moves between contemporary, electronic, and classic indie-rock style Hippo Campus is remembered for. For the most part, the album tends to lean more reminiscent of their sound from Bambi, however, this isn’t to say that LP3 isn’t something entirely special on its own. From the ambitious, synthy chords in “2 Young 2 Die” and “Blew Its” to the sudden bursts of guitar in “Ashtray,” each track delivers a unique aspect to the album that creates an experience unmatched. 

As for Hippo Campus themselves, it’s evident that the group is just scratching the surface when it comes to forming their sound and their journey as artists in the ever-changing music industry. Especially in comparison to their debut Landmark (2017), there’s no telling as to what else they’ll do and what other musical elements they’ll incorporate in their future projects. Coming from a fan’s perspective, it’s comforting to see that the band can also relate to the often complicated venture into adulthood and how much change and self-doubt can happen within your 20 somethings. LP3 reminds us that it’s okay to be confused, as reflected in the lyrics, “I’ve been bad but I’m only getting better,” we’re all just trying to be our best authentic selves.