Texas Hill, Heaven Down Here

Adam Wakefield, Casey James, and Craig Wayne Boyd have all enjoyed individual success as musicians. Yet, they all are part a unique club of musicians. All three initially found notoriety and fame after competing on music competition shows; Wakefield and Boyd on The Voice and James on American Idol. 

In 2019 the three met and became fast appreciators of each others abilities as song-writers and musicians and from there Texas Hill was born. Now, three years later, they have released their debut album Heaven Down Here. And it is a great one.

As a trio, Wakefield, James, and Boyd not only bring out the best in each other, they also just sound so darn terrific together. Talk about inspired vocal harmonies. As Wakefield said about their vocals in a recent interview, "We have our own sound as a collective, and nothing shows that more than when we flip parts around and still sound the same. These three timbres together, regardless of what register they're in, they create their own sound." That sound shines throughout this collection of twelve great songs. As Sounds Like Nashville best wrote, "With its real-life-inspired lyricism and multi-genre stylistic influences - which melds soul, R&B, country, southern rock, and even some Memphis blues - Heaven Down Here encapsulates the true spirit of down-home music." And who can't use more of that?

 

Yard Act, The Overload

In just 18 months, Yard Act have gone from an unknown post-punk band from Leeds, UK to being a major label recorded band with debut album that is expected to enter the UK charts at number one this week. Not too bad. 

Since the band released their first single, Fixer Upper, there has been a great buzz around them. Yard Act has seemed to have struck a nerve as lead singer James Smith and the band confront everyday life in a post-Brexit Britain with their acid tongue lyrics and post-punk funk sound. 

Now, a little less then two years since the forming, Yard Act give the people much more of what they want; a full length album of blunt, bruising, compassionate, and witty songs that touch on class identity, gentrification, consumerism, cancel culture, and general discontentment. Combined with their 'skittery-but-muscular post-punk funk' sound: 'punchy disco drums, stabbing, guitar, and melodies driven by the bass that tend to resolve into memorable choruses' (The Guardian), the band land a one-two punch. The Overload is a super debut album that I have been thoroughly enjoying and it is one that should set Yard Act on a trajectory to great success. 

 

Happy Birthday David Bowie

Today is David Bowie's birthday. He would have been 75 years old. Monday will be the 5th anniversary of his passing. 

I am and have always been a HUGE Bowie fan. And each and every year on his birthday, in celebration of his life, art, and incredible body of work, I break out my favorite albums...of which there are many...and listen to them throughout the day. 

I also reach for my favorite Bowie quote which is always appropriate to the start of the New Year. And frankly always appropriate.

Happy B-Day Mr. Bowie. And Happy New Year!