Sophie's Floorboard: Houston

Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

Overo

Overo are a four-piece emo/screamo band from Houston, Texas that began in late 2018. They were formed by members of football, etc. and Perfect Future. If you're familiar with those two bands, you've already got a good idea of what Overo sound like, as they blend the melancholic chords and sweeping vocals of the former with the pounding drums and distorted chaos of the latter, with impassioned screams to complete the dual-vocal duo. This band really does sound like a seamless amalgamation of its members past work, which leads to a new and incredibly refreshing listen. Their debut, self-titled LP is being released by both Count Your Lucky Stars and Middle-Man Records, which are essential mainstays in their respective emo/screamo worlds, putting Overo in the center of this metaphorical Venn diagram. Enjoy.

Cold Concrete/Shattered (2019)

1. Cold Concrete

2. Shattered

Overo (2019)

1. The Dead

2. Constellations

3. Pact

4. Summer Wheat

5. Interlude

6. Pine And Black Oak

7. Dark Eyes

8. Diffraction

9. Joseph

Pre-order from Middle-Man Records

Pre-order from CYLS

Bandcamp

Facebook

Monday, 23 March 2015

football, etc.

football, etc. are a three-piece indie/emo band from Houston, Texas that formed in 2009. They are currently signed to Count Your Lucky Stars. In terms of sound, think of Rainer Maria, first and foremost. The female vocals, clean guitar tones, and lushness of football, etc. is very reminiscent of Rainer Maria. Also, add the slow, clean, arpeggiated guitars of Sunny Day Real Estate, plus the production atmosphere of modern bands like Joie de Vivre and Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). Voila, football, etc. Beautiful guitar melodies and stellar vocals are key here. Their songwriting is solid, and they can fill up songs with such a seemingly minimal approach. They've kind of got a Sleater-Kinney thing going on between Lindsay Minton (vocals, guitar) and Mercy Harper, who plays guitar, but tuned down so it has the low end range of a bass. It makes for an interesting combination of sound. Enjoy.

First Down (2009)

1. Dream Big

2. Touchdown (Dance)

3. Catch The Spirit

4. First Down

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)/football, etc. (2009)

1. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - Documenting Thirty Days

2. football, etc. - Fightin' Phoenix

football, etc. (2010)

1. Away Game

2. XXL

The Draft (2011)

1. Sudden Death

2. Incomplete

3. Safety

4. Lambeau Leap

5. X's And O's

6. Halftime

7. Sideline

8. Hail Mary

9. Flood

10. Mouthguard

football, etc./Square Business (2012)

1. football, etc. - hut 1

2. football, etc. - hut 3

3. football, etc. - hike

4. Square Business - Weight

5. Square Business - Medicine

6. Square Business - Walk By Faith

football, etc./Plaids (2013)

1. football, etc. - Down the Field

2. Plaids - Eleven

3. Plaids - Twelve

Audible (2013)

1. Fair

2. Goal

3. Audible

4. Hut 1

5. Forfeit

6. Extra Point

7. Time Out

8. Black Out

9. Red Zone

10. Turnover

11. Return

Disappear (2015)

1. Sunday

2. Sweep

3. Receiver

4. Open

Bandcamp

Facebook

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Mineral

Here's a post that is long overdue, on one of the best bands ever that everyone should hear.

Mineral are a four-piece emo/indie band from from Houston, Texas that was around from 1994-1997. In their time, they put out two perfect albums and numerous other releases. These guys not only pioneered but mastered the indie/emo sound of that era. That influence is still felt today, with tons of amazing bands around today existing pretty much solely because of what bands like Mineral did. Other bands akin to them are Sunny Day Real Estate, Texas Is The Reason, Christie Front Drive, etc. As amazing as all those bands are, Mineral still was not exactly like them. Beautiful guitar arpeggios, poetic lyrics, melodies that hook you in, and Chris Simpson's angelic voice define Mineral's sound. I dare you to listen to their music and not chills. It won't happen. Their music hits highs that not many band's can. Their songwriting, playing style, vocals and lyrics, everything, is perfectly crafted. And that is no hyperbole. They managed to reach perfection, and will continue to stun and inspire audiences with what they made in the short time they were around. And the best part is, they are around again! In 2014, they announced a reunion tour, as well as reissues of their two album and compilation CD of all their music, some of it which has never been out before. Their legacy will be preserved for a long time, and to anyone who has yet to hear them, enjoy, and I truly mean that. Mineral is a gift to all those that get to hear them. After their initial breakup, their members formed quite a few different bands, some of the best and most notable being The Gloria Record and Pop Unknown. But still, Mineral are the legends. Enjoy.

Gloria/Parking Lot (1994)

1. Gloria

2. Parking Lot

The Power Of Failing (1997)

1. Five, Eight, And Ten

2. Gloria

3. Slower

4. Dolorosa

5. 80-37

6. If I Could

7. July

8. Silver

9. Take The Picture Now

10. Parking Lot

Mineral/Jimmy Eat World/Sense Field (1997)

1. Mineral - Crazy (Willie Nelson cover)

2. Jimmy Eat World - Secret Crush

3. Sense Field - Every Reason

(Don't Forget To) Breathe (1997)

11. Rubber Legs

The First Crush Compilation (1997)

3. Sadder Star

February/M.D. (1998)

1. February

2. M.D.

&Serenading (1998)

1. &Serenading

2. Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs cover)

EndSerenading (1998)

1. Lovelettertypewriter

2. Palisade

3. Gjs

4. Unfinished

5. ForIvadell

6. Wakingtowinter

7. Aletter

8. Soundslikesunday

9. &serenading

10. Thelastwordisrejoice

The Complete Collection Disc 1 (2010)

Disc 1