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| Let's
start with the puzzlingly familiar sonorities of Jeff Halland's
sweet voice. Pitch perfect, with great control and strength, Halland's
vocal chords phrase words and sound notes in a manner vaguely of
not only Allen Epley (The Life and Times and formerly of Shiner)
but - dare we say
it, oh fickle would-be listener - of the singer of Night Ranger or
Loverboy. Dunno, 'cause it's been so long since we've heard those
bands (no, really!), but wow, this Halland guy can sing. And seriously:
What's wrong with that? Not a damn thing. Just ask Sister Christian. Thankfully, when Houston toned down the bombardment their raucous guitar/drums/bass attack brought aplenty, the slow songs - the ballads, if you will - had the grit to buttress their beauty, some sweat with the bitter lyrical lament and down tempo mood. Houston was massive, a bumble bee on HGH buzzing into a megaphone nestled against your eardrum. Influenced as much by Molly McGuire, Shiner, and Shellac, as much as Queens of the Stone Age, Jawbox, AC/DC, Sabbath, Zeppelin, etc., Houston was proudly Midwestern, and inherent in that was a work ethic that kept them touring and bringing it nightly. " They play some District of Columbia-style melodic post-punk that would fit in nicely with the Dischord and DeSoto Records crews." - Impact Press " Easily one of the strongest releases of the year." - Ink19 " The band specializes in songs that utilize a huge guitar sound and a deft rhythm section to arrive at the point where dynamic, math-rock changes intersect with memorable melodies. Cross the Midwestern expansiveness of Shiner with the metallic edge of Queens of the Stone Age, and you're on the right block." - Tucson Weekly < BACK TO Houston |