The Houston rap scene gained national attention in the late nineties and early 00’s with screwed and chopped remixes – as well as their affinity for mixing codeine and cough syrup. That’s died down considerably on the national stage since then, but the cyclical nature of music in general will undoubtedly bring the city to the forefront of the American musical conscience.
Hero & Rad figure to play a role in that rebirth through their enthusiasm and penchant for a great beat. On “Smoothness, Coolness,” the duo pairs up with Austin’s Mike & Ike, and rhymes over top of a jazzy, mellow horn sample; the results are convincing. Their debut album – Resilience – has been out for a bit now, and is generating a lot of interest around their hometown. You can check some extra tracks out here, and check out the video for “Smoothness, Coolness” below.
Dave and I have talked about trying to institute a “Band of the…” type thing here on the blog; we’re still working out the kinks and how we want it to operate, but eventually we’d like the bands to answer a few questions and give us their take on their music rather than reading us blather on about it. But until then, you’re stuck with us.
Taken just by their moniker, Danish band Alcoholic Faith Mission sounds like a contradiction. Or maybe they’re some new kind of religion – the Alcoholic Faith. When experiencing their music, it seems like they’re the embodiment of both.
Their sophomore effort – 421 Wythe Avenue – was released in April 2009, and it is a melodic, everything-in-the-pot kind of album. After returning to Brooklyn to record it, nothing is off limits for the group – muted horns, piano, wobbling synth, female vocals, male vocals, drums, strange clips of sound from daily life are all used; not unlike a Mission, all are welcome to take part in something greater. It’s a specifically urban sounding album; the haunting “Time” is a late, lonely walk home from the bar, when every sound on the street is amplified and senses are particularly heightened. It’s not as fragile as it seems at first listen; it’s layered and dense and beautifully done.
The overwhelmingly Nordic-named band seems to have just gotten off of a European tour at the beginning of December, and I don’t see anything else on tap for them just yet, but I’d look forward to seeing them ply their craft on this side of the Atlantic.
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
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Upcoming Western NY Concerts
NOTE: Concerts are in Rochester unless otherwise noted.
1/5: Les Racquet
1/12: Joywave with Old Tapes, Dave & Marissa
1/13: The Dads
1/14: My Brightest Diamond
1/17: Josh Netsky Band with Cuddle Magic
1/18: Tycho (Buffalo)
1/26: Avicii
1/26: A$AP Rocky (Buffalo)
1/28: The Crystal Method (Syracuse)
2/11: Blind Pilot (Ithaca)
2/22: William Fitzsimmons
2/24: Mike Doughty
2/25: Charles Bradley (Buffalo)
2/29: Summer People
3/3: Matthew Good
3/5: Evening Man
3/23: The Men
3/30: tympanogram’s 3rd Birthday with Born Gold, Old Tapes, TBA
4/20: fun.
4/23: Cults (Buffalo)
5/6: Bear In Heaven (Ithaca)
5/7: M83 (Buffalo)
an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum, and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Basically, it sounded like a cool name for a blog intended to be primarily about music. We’d both had other blogs previously, but over beers it was decided that more damage could be done as a joint venture. And here we are.
We share a passion for the undiscovered and under-appreciated, and hope that you’ll be able to find something you love as well.
Disclaimer
The music offered on this blog is for sampling purposes only. If you enjoy something you hear here, please go out and buy the music, see a show, or purchase some merchandise. Posted mp3s are available for a limited period of time only.
If there are any materials featured here that are your intellectual property, and you would prefer them removed, please notify us and we will be happy to oblige.
Contact Us
Do you have an artist or band you think we should hear? Please feel free to let us know and we'd be glad to give it a listen.
Submissions can be sent here, or email us for an address if you wish to send physical submissions.
Please note that we try our hardest to respond to all submissions, but we get a lot of requests, so we will get back to you as soon as we can.
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About the Author: Dave
I like music. I can't describe how I came to like the music I do, because I don't know how or why, I just do.
Many years ago, Napoleon's brother, my great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, came to America. He was asked his name on Ellis Island while being processed as an immigrant. Not understanding English, he was under the impression that he was being asked how he had arrived in the new land. So he turned around and pointed at the sea vessel and said, 'LaBarge.'
About the Author: Andy
I come by my music taste of my own free will. My friends listened to 2Pac, my parents to contemporary Christian and me? Sunny Day Real Estate. I can’t explain it.
“Music, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones…” - Lester Bangs
The Houston rap scene gained national attention in the late nineties and early 00’s with screwed and chopped remixes – as well as their affinity for mixing codeine and cough syrup. That’s died down considerably on the national stage since then, but the cyclical nature of music in general will undoubtedly bring the city to the forefront of the American musical conscience.
Dave and I have talked about trying to institute a “Band of the…” type thing here on the blog; we’re still working out the kinks and how we want it to operate, but eventually we’d like the bands to answer a few questions and give us their take on their music rather than reading us blather on about it. But until then, you’re stuck with us.
