Each week the Digital Trends staff selects three albums that we think you should know about. Not in-depth reviews, just passing on some music we like.
Want to suggest a band or album? Email us here: dt3@digitaltrends.com or leave a comment below.
Texas Hippie Coalition – Rollin’
Top Tracks: Pissed Off and Mad About It, Cocked and Loaded, Back From Hell
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Biography: Upon first glance of the Texas Hippie Coalition, one may come to the conclusion that they are an intimidating group that lives up to the cliché of their nickname “band of outlaws.” However, looking a little closer at lead vocalist Big Dad Ritch, bassist John Exall, guitarists Randy Cooper and Crawfish, and drummer Ryan Bennett; it’s hard to ignore that they are indeed much more than meets the eye. They are a loyal and talented “band of brothers” who consider themselves just as much family as they are band mates. “We’re as southern as southern can be,” says ‘Big Dad’ Ritch, the behemoth front man and driving force behind Texas Hippie Coalition. “Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, ZZ Top, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – we’re as outlaw as we can get, while at the same time having the power of that Texas groove, like Pantera. We’re metal with a southern rock and roll spirit. We are a band of outlaws.”
How to Destroy Angels – How to Destroy Angels
Download the debut six track EP for free.
Top Tracks: The Spaces In Between, Fur Lined, BBB
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Biography: Named after a 1984 Coil single, How to Destroy Angels features Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, former West Indian Girl singer (and Reznor’s wife) Mariqueen Maandig and Atticus Ross. Work on the project began a few months after Nine Inch Nails’ final show in September 2009, and the following spring, the group made their debut with the digital single A Drowning and a video for the song “The Space in Between,” which premiered on pitchfork.com that May. Soon after, the band made their self-titled debut EP — which was produced by Ross, also NIN’s longtime co-producer — available as a free download. That July, How to Destroy Angels was released on CD through the Null label. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
Delphic – Acolyte
Top Tracks: Clarion Call, Doubt, Counterpoint
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Biography: Inspired by Factory Records, acid house, and the golden days of their Manchester, England hometown in the ’80s, Delphic features guitarist Matt Cocksedge, multi-instrumentalist Richard Boardman, singer James Cook, and drummer Dan Therman, who plays at the band’s shows. Prior to Delphic, Cocksedge and Boardman were in the guitar-driven indie band Snowfight in the City Centre, but when that group split, the pair wanted to make music people could dance to. They connected with Cook and, following in the footsteps of New Order, mixed dance beats and synths with live drums and guitars. After their first show in a basement, Delphic also hosted illegal raves in warehouses to avoid playing in typical venues. The band signed to the same management firm that represented Bloc Party and the Streets. They worked with dance producer Ewan Pearson on their April 2009 debut single “Counterpoint,” which was released by the Belgian label R&S. Delphic spent that summer playing at festivals including T in the Park, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Creamfields and Bestival. In August, the group issued “This Momentary” on Kitsune. The single’s video was nominated for three U.K. Music Video Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Telecine. Late in 2009, Delphic were named one of the 15 acts shortlisted for the BBC Sound of 2010 (they ended up placing third). Their debut album, Acolyte, arrived early in 2010 on their own imprint Chimeric via Polydor, and earned critical acclaim. The single “Doubt” appeared soon after Acolyte’s release. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
