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From Bonafide Darling:
HMS Foolhardy
It's nice when you get an email in your inbox and it contains an mp3. It's even better when the mp3 is actually really good.
This just so happened to be the case when I received an email containing "Taken Alive" by Austin's HMS Foolhardy. It's a nice little track in the vein of Britpop. Check it out. Oh, and their bass player, Carissa Ries, could be added to my bass player crush list. - bonafidedarling.blogspot.com
The music has a surface sheen of polite conventionality, but something dark and sad roils underneath.... The real suprise after repeated listens, is that while Foolhardy sounds almost studied in its pursuit of a radio-ready, commercial sound, it has a certain plain-faced, guileless innocence, even given the bleakness of the lyrics. What Cheryl Crow, or Counting Crows, or Blink 182, are trying to simulate, Foolhardy is doing for real. - Little Village Magazine
What's the Deal: This Austin trio has a very '90s feel, but in a good way. They have an indie pop sound that touches down in some familiar territory. The vast majority of songs are plump with rich, affective hooks. Their newer songs are produced by Louie Lino who works with Nada Surf and Matt Pond PA among others, and that influence really shows.
One of their tracks, "Overseas", isn't too far removed from something off Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary. Soft-spoken choruses about relationships and constellations mingle with guitar strums and keyboard produced melodic electronics. "Taken Alive" is another song that brings to mind those early, melodic days with songs full of feeling of the 90s emo revival (before it was tainted by all those bands who wore that genre designation like a badge). Slow and somber guitar sparkles with piano and a steady rhythm section support the sweetly sullen harmonies.
Something Interesting: The group began in Berlin in 2003, but came to Austin in 2006.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: "Same Procedure" and "White Trash Rain".
http://austinist.com/2008/09/12/le_diamant_brut_horse_feathers_hms.php - Austinist.com
"Taken Alive" selected as KUT Song of the Day.
See announcement at http://texasmusicmatters.kut.org/2008/08/13/hms-foolhardy-taken-alive/ - kut.org
"Taken Alive" selected as one of only fifteen tracks for the debut of the Texas Music Mixtape.
http://texasmusicmatters.kut.org/mixtape/ - texasmusicmatters.kut.org
Discography
Foolhardy (2004)
HMS Foolhardy (2007)
Grassrock (2009)
Photos
Bio
A quest for beauty and power in simplicity. Rhythm & melody. Bass, guitar, drums, and voice. Sweet pop nuggets with dark, moody insides.
Launched as "Foolhardy" in Berlin (ja, sie sprechen Deutsch). The band arrived in Austin in 2006 and was rechristened "HMS Foolhardy."
Experienced and professional, the group delivers a mesmerizing performance built on pop sensibilities that appeal to a diverse audience.
New recordings produced by Louie Lino (Nada Surf/Barsuk)
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