In House #1840: New Releases from The Mother Hips and Kings of Leon

The first full-length in six years from Chico, California's Mother Hips drops today on the Camera label. Kiss the Crystal Flake is the sixth album overall from the band, but just the second of the decade, following 2001's excellent The Green Hills of Earth. The band took an extended hiatus following that release due in part to a shake-up in their lineup, finally reappearing with 2005's Red Tandy EP. The new effort continues the direction of the past two, eschewing the psychedelia and jam-band sounds of their 90's output for a more pop-oriented direction, built on hooks and harmonies. Taking this a step further is the oddly titled "Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear," a song that falls squarely in indie-rock territory as The Hips come across like an earthier version of Spoon. The band hits the road later this week, playing back to back nights in Salt Lake City on the 27th and 28th of April.



Also out today is the third album from the Kings of Leon, the southern fried quartet composed of three brothers and a cousin. New elements creep into the music on Because Of the Times, a fact that might be attributed to touring with the likes of U2, among others, over the past couple of years. Still, reviews are calling the sound equal parts Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and the White Stripes, giving southern rock an unlikely spot amongst the hipster-certified bands of the day.


In House #1840.
Airdate: 4/3/07
Focus: New releases out today from The Mother Hips, Kiss the Crystal Flake, and Kings of Leon, Because of the Times. Plus, new music from Ron Franklin, Bigsby Jones, the Avett Brothers, and more.

BONUS MP3-
The Mother Hips, from Kiss the Crystal Flake:

"Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #287