Justin Hood is a local hip-hop musician and—once upon a time—was an excellent Alibi editorial intern. On Saturday, April 23, he releases The Falling Season at the Launchpad (618 Central SW). Peek into Hood’s music collection via the random selections below.
Song Roulette
1) “Kokomo” • The Beach Boys • [single version] “Aruba … Jamaica … that’s exactly where I want to be. The Beach Boys spikes the punch with this nostalgic tune every time. While ‘Kokomo’ brings back memories of beach parties and cocktails for most, for me it reminds me of water wings and virgin Piña Coladas.”
Song Roulette
2) “Bette Davis Eyes” • Kim Carnes • Mistaken Identity “No idea who Kim Carnes was until an aimless night of karaoke at a dive bar in Philadelphia. Although a ‘songbird’ of the ’80s, ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ remains a one-stop pop song for the barflies that never quite made it to ‘American Idol.’ ”
Song Roulette
3) “Homecoming (DiscoTech Remix)” • DJ Benzi and Plain Pat • Sky High “Critics and angry mobs aside, Kanye West is one of a kind. This electro remix samples less than eight bars of Mr. West’s obnoxiousness while looping Coldplay’s Chris Martin for the remaining two-plus minutes. This remix puts the ‘r’ in redundant, but the Benzi and Plain Pat Sky High album is always great for house parties.”
Song Roulette
4) “Down in a Cold Dirty Well” • Justin Nozuka • Holly “I discovered this talented acoustic artist on the streets of Austin, Texas, at SXSW in 2009. Justin Nozuka is not your novelty singer-songwriter, but the man has an overwhelming sense of realism within his music and lyrics. Holly has the ability to make you tear up, throw fists and make love within one sitting. I highly recommend this gent to anyone who enjoys indulging in a buffet of emotions.”
Song Roulette
5) “Drunkship of Lanterns” • The Mars Volta • De-Loused in the Comatorium “The Mars Volta has to be one of the most batshit craziest bands I have ever heard. I love it. De-Loused in the Comatorium fuses so many styles of music while streaming through a psychedelic tale of a drug-induced coma. The drum breaks punch you right in the face while vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López sew it all back up with spellbinding melodies. Call me crazy. Or just call me a big fan, but these guys make Led Zeppelin look like a bunch of tenderfoots.”
