Description
Let's start with the puzzlingly familiar sonorities of Jeff Halland's sweet voice. Pitch perfect, with great control and strength, Halland's vocal chords phrase words and sound notes in a manner vaguely of not only Allen Epley (The Life and Times and formerly of Shiner) but - dare we say it, oh fickle would-be listener - of the singer of Night Ranger or Loverboy. Dunno, 'cause it's been so long since we've heard those bands (no, really!), but wow, this guy can sing. And seriously: What's wrong with that? Not a damn thing. Just ask Sister Christian. Thankfully, when Houston tones down the bombardment their raucous guitar/drums/bass attack brings aplenty, the slow songs - the ballads, if you will - have grit to go with their beauty, some sweat with the bitter lyrical lament and down tempo mood. Houston is massive, a bumble bee on growth hormone buzzing into a megaphone nestled against your eardrum. Influenced as much by Molly McGuire, Shiner, and Shellac, as much as Queens of the Stone Age, Jawbox, AC/DC, Sabbath, Zeppelin, etc., they're proudly Midwestern, and inherent in that is a work ethic that keeps them touring and bringing it nightly.
