The Houstons are a band with skeletons in their closet, to be sure. Formerly known as the two-piece, The Houston Brothers, and fronted by brothers Justin and Matt Faircloth, the new Houstons are free from the binds of the past. Their debut outing on MoRisen Records, Still, is an emotionally charged, multifaceted, and wholly orchestrated indie-pop gem.
Having gone on indefinite hiatus in 2004, the Houston Brothers effectively shied out of the spotlight and halted the momentum they'd been building with their critically successful CD releases and live concerts. Being young and constantly surrounded by temptation can lead any man astray, but a little time away from the spotlight was just the elixir. After a year-plus hiatus, the Faircloth brothers are back with a new moniker and three additional band members, bringing with them their strongest effort to date.
Still was recorded in Justin's Charlotte, NC home studio and is faultless in its production quality. The album is an 11-slice offering of loss, turmoil, reconciliation and acceptance. The layers of strings, guitars and keyboards are accompanied by Justin Faircloth's windswept and gravelly voice, reminiscent of Elliott Smith, Jakob Dylan, or Lou Reed. Each song offers a detailed account of the trials and tribulations of the past few years. Cuts such as "Magnolia," with heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics like, "Don't remind me, Magnolia / There's certain things we shouldn't dig up, no / The cancer that we barely beat / With a taste for the total control," offers so many inferences that the true meaning might be best left to the listener's imagination.
See them at CMJ - Oct 19th / 8pm @ Ace of Clubs (MoRisen Showcase feat. the Sammies, Dead Confederate, Babyshaker and more!)
The Houstons were recently voted 2007's Best Local Band/Artist by Creative Loafing
www.houstonsmusic.com
www.myspace.com/thehoustons
www.morisen.com
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