The River [Froggy Bog Vinyl LP]

Hello Shark - The River [Froggy Bog Vinyl LP]

The River is Lincoln Halloran's first album as Hello Shark in a decade. Since the project's debut, the Kittery, Maine-based songwriter has favored sparse arrangements and contemplative, heartfelt lyricism. The River, the project's fourth and most fully realized record, marks the return of a beloved singer-songwriter and affirms why Hello Shark has continued to grow a devoted following even in absentia.

Recorded with producer Garrett Linck, The River blends slowcore sprawl and introspective singer-songwriter tunes. Across ten tracks, Halloran's matter of fact lyricism captures moments of interpersonal minutiae, with stripped-down stories full of I's and you's. As Halloran puts it, "Getting sober gave me the freedom to actually look. Once I started doing that, I could write an honest-sounding song." Ultimately, The River is a clear-eyed album that looks to the past as a means of moving forward.