Local albums make me happy. Mostly.
By Omar Afra
Woozy Helmet
Get Down
Get Down is an apt title for this album. Ha-ha. Not funny. OK. Anyways, Woozy Helmet is one of the most crunktastic things in the state of Texas and this album exemplifies that paradigm in every way possibly. The songs on this album range from broken glass massaged into your testicles to being spoon fed vanilla custard. You could call this album a ‘recording’ but it is really more a snapshot of their kick-you-in-the nuts-tight live show. What respect means to Jose captures the serrated edges of Woozy Helmet while maintain the melody and fun they pull off so seamlessly. Other clutch songs include New Bear, Strawberry, and Hopeless. Like I fucking said, their live show awesomeness as they so exemplified last month at Artstorm for their CD release. Though their myspace says they hail from Austin, a sordid town full of dubiously gay frat boys and hippies who advocate a kinder gentler for of capitalism’, we like to claim them as our own as FRONTMAN Jay is a fellow Montrosian. Or at least I run into him at Catbird’s enough for him to qualify.
See em’ live in Austin December 6th at Elysium.
myspace.com/woozyhelmet
Check Other
Westheimer Traffic: The Mixtape
Despite having produced this stellar mixtape, local ‘monsters’ Check Other perform hip-hop live with the tenacity of any heavy band around. To be honest, that tenacity is missing from most H Town rappers live performance. Check Other’s members hail from NYC to the Left Coast as well as right here in Houston. Comprised of Sunny D. Cypher, Mention78, Sid, and Tommy Bumps, Westheimer Traffic is rife with whimsical rhymes and audacious claims. Love (What I need), Corona Light, and Get U Down are no doubt the golden tracks on this mixtape. You will hear allot of De LaSoul in their sound as they generously borrow from them and are honest about their influence as they cite it with ease. Nowadays, who better to be inspired by?
myspace.com/checkother
The Small Sounds
Self Titled
The Small Sounds have carved them selves out an album out that is more country than ‘Indie Country’ but waaaaaay to the left of ‘orthodox’ Nashville Country. This 12-song full-length album has grit, tenacity, stellar vocals and playing, and sounds quintessentially Houston. The haunting tale of Mothers and Daughters is a pretty Texas country ditty played within the framework of a Beatles-esque progression (without sounding contrived). This album is recorded simply and cleanly without the corny sounding, over washed reverb that all the kids are using these days to record their brand of Country. Or whatever. As for live performance, The Small Sounds pull off all their antics on stage with ease and their harmonies are a delight. They play the Armadillo Palace on December 13th.
myspace.com/thesmallsounds
Room 101
Demo
Angular guitar playing, impassioned vocals, and meditative beats make Room101 one of Houston’s most interesting new acts. This sometimes sounds like Jeff Buckley mating with Fantomas then rapidly dips into a garage aesthetic. Plastic Bag Hat is a bright spot on this demo recorded and performed entirely by ‘one man band’ Robert Ruynolds. He would just as easily fit in onstage with local acts ranging from Hearts of Animals to Rusted Shut. Catch him at The Artery on December 5th.
myspace.com/room10101
Jacob Meador
In Dependence
Jacob Meador has been engineering thousands of albums at Houston’s famed Sunrise Studios for several years now. Sitting back and watching bands record for dozens of years while hiding away your passions and music has to be frustrating. Meador puts this frustration to use in his ode to ‘modern rock’ In Dependence. Slickly recorded and engineered, this 8 songs album misses the mark yet leaves the door open. Nonetheless, though I may think this sort of music is a dead horse, those of you who enjoy the stylings of Incubus and other comparable (shitty) acts may enjoy this. Guest appearances are made by several local notables such as Nolan Burke and Winter Wallace. Jacob Meador performs live December 6th at Fitz.
myspace.com/jacobmeador
Female Demand
Self Titled
2-piece drum and bass duo Female Demand wore Bumble Bee and Banana costumes while they performed at last October’s Westheimer Block Party. As the sound of their erratic riffage escaped the inside on Mangos, attendees poured in to see what all the fuss was about. Those who did got a collective kick in the nuts from this fierce some duo. This self-titled ep captures that spirit in more ways than one. This roughly cut collection of songs is Lightning Bolt meets Zeppelin recording their music in the hole they dug Saddam out of. Despite the piss poor drum recording, check this out, then go see Female Demand live, and then load up on B12. Come to Helios on December 20th to see them as well as Satin Hooks, Piano Vines, Eastern Sea, Nick Greer, Ozeal, and Chase Hamblin.
myspace.com/femaledemand
