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Tag: Hood Smoke

Premiere: Hood Smoke’s “Depending on the Fool”

Hood Smoke‘s “Depending on the Fool” is an evocative, downtempo tune that falls somewhere between indie-pop, soul, and Casio-pop. The casio-style beat creates a subtle groove, the arrangement lopes along like a lost tune by the Antlers, and the vocals are rich and soulful.

The results are a swaying, carefully-developed song that grew on me quite a bit over multiple listens. The contemplative pace and style to the tune echo the lyrics, which bandleader Bryan Doherty mentions are a touch melancholy: the track “comes from the idea that humans accrue moral and ethical debts as years add up; the song is an ode to an attempt to relieve any pressure acquired over time.” Between the arrangement, the vocals, and the lyrics, the idea of looking back in sadness and looking forward in hope is clear.

“Depending on the Fool” comes from Cannonball Porch, which drops February 23, 2018.

 

Premiere: Hood Smoke’s “Jade Lights”

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Hood Smoke‘s “Jade Lights” is the rare rock track that takes inspiration from retro sources without sounding like it should be played on classic rock radio.

The quintet pulls from funky motown (that chorus!), gentle psych (check the spacey synth mini-solo), and straight-ahead AM rock tendencies but adds in a subtle modern swagger and a not-so-subtle guitar solo/riff that punches through any retro haze you might feel. “Jade Lights” walks the line between forward-looking and backward-looking neatly as a result, creating a satisfying tune. If you’re into bands as disparate as Foxygen, Courtney Barnett, Alabama Shakes, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, you’ll be excited about this one.

The tune comes from their new release Rough Around The Hedges, set to drop early next year.