pollen

pollen were one of the last truly talented bands to release an album through fueled by ramen (and contrary to most fueled by ramen bands, there's a huge lack of photographs of them on the interweb). sounding like texas is the reason, gameface, jimmy eat world, and the descendants started an all star power pop group, pollen released four albums before disbanding in 2000. fans of newer-school bands like the get up kids and hot rod circuit would also certainly be into this. huge guitar riffs, insanely catchy choruses, and an intricate rhythm section to boot.

drummer/principal songwriter/lyricist bob hoag has gone on to record some of your favorite bands (including little compass, dear and the headlights, the format, the bled, and the first band i ever sang for.. heist at hand) at his flying blanket studios in arizona. he was also recruited as keyboardist/pianist for the ataris on their last album/tour.

flying blanket studios.

fan run pollen myspace.

download chip:


download peach tree:


- panda

the hero factor - interactions (2005)

so i'm at a bar with my brother on a thursday night in west texas having a few drinks, where apparently there's a free show in the back room. we decide to check it out, where we're greeted with the atmospheric guitars and soaring vocals of tulsa, oklahoma natives the hero factor. i was blown away that these guys were playing a free show to no more than 20 or 30 people on a thursday. they put on one hell of a live show, which is probably why they've got two live releases under their belt.

their debut studio album is filled with driving indie/rock anthems that're topped off with vocalist ben kilgore's exceptionally soulful croon. another site i was reading likened them to the avante-pop of muse mixed with the vocal stylings of adam duritz (of the counting crows). i can see the merit in both comparisons.

since this album, they've gone through some member changes, found the right formula for the hero factor, and issued an ep called battling chimaera (which you can hear songs from on their myspace). while doing some more research on the band, i found a quote by kilgore that sums up what they want to accomplish as a band:

“I think we’re realizing the voice that we have and that we don’t want to waste it on trivial things. We want it to be beautiful so that it stops people in their tracks. I want the music to have the power to do something in people’s lives, whether it’s to make ‘em smile, or make them cry, but just to do something that initiates change in peoples lives.”

the hero factor on myspace.

download interactions:


- the panda factor

stadium

H-TOWN REPRESENT.

first of all, with lyrics like i'm coming clean with myself/drinking the whiskey down seems to help, you're gonna score automatic points with alcoholics like roshan and myself.

rising from the ashes of wonderful houston bands the record time, little compass, and the belle curve, stadium are a shining example of music that's going unheard in texas by the rest of the world. i'd riyl them to fans of jimmy eat world, spitalfield, hot rod circuit, and the get up kids. impeccable duel harmonies, big guitars, and bigger hooks.

you can download their debut ep change of plans, we're coming home for 6 bucks on their wonderfully designed myspace page (joon photography/valentone media WHAT UP). in the meantime, here's two songs to get you started. cave in, cave in.

stadium on myspace.

download ground zero.
download coming clean.

-panda