hopefully you’re all enjoying the cool sounds of Seabird after that sweet deal of the day from Thursday… i’ve been enjoying that album since it released last year… Anyway, i have a few things to chat up today, but this post will be about one thing split into four parts… sit tight for all things House of Heroes…
BACK IN THE DAY
now playing: Back in the Day – Ahmad
Looking back, it might not have seemed that the group No Tagbacks took much of anything seriously. However, when the trio of bassist AJ Babcock, vocalist Tim Skipper and drummer Colin Rigsby rebranded themselves as House of Heroes, they certainly gained some momentum – enough to earn a record deal with TobyMac’s Gotee Records, a solid launching pad for the group that now has a couple albums and is definitely one to watch.
ENTER THE HEROES
now playing: Metaphor in Parentheses – House of Heroes
As House of Heroes, the group released their debut album, What You Want Is Now, via Vanishing Point Records. The album was produced by Plankeye’s Scott Silletta and caught the attention of Toby McKeehan, who signed them to Gotee shortly after the release.
2005 brought another debut of sorts, the self-titled label debut from Gotee – an album that was redone and rebranded as Say No More, released through Gotee’s sister label, Mono Vs Stereo. Common to each of the albums, the soaring vocals of Tim Skipper and the distinct rock sounds that combine raw passion and refined artistry.
THE END (BUT NOT THE END)
now playing: Sooner or Later – House of Heroes
Which brings us to last year and the release of The End Is Not the End, an epic journey offering a unique perspective of war over the backdrop of rock and roll. One of my personal favorites from last year, the album takes the group’s sound to the next level and offers fans something palpable to hang on to, touching on the many emotions related to the subject matter and exploring the many facet of musicianship the group has to offer.
Whether it’s the classic rock motif presented by tracks like “Voices” and “Lose Control” or the tender side of things displayed by ballads like “By Your Side,” the album gives listeners plenty to enjoy. Perhaps no more so than on the single, “In the Valley of the Dying Sun“, which manages to balance all of these aspects and utilize them together. There’s even a hint of The Beatles in the opening track “If” which brings us to the next topic of conversation…
THE EEPS
now playing: If (acoustic) – House of Heroes
This year, House of Heroes has kept their feet on the throttle as they’ve been dropping EPs to keep us enjoying the music year round. After a special Christmas single – Silent Night – the group released a three song EP called The Acoustic End that provides a fresh take on three of the tunes from their latest album, including the aforementioned “If” with its Beatle-esque song structure.
And later this week, on the heels of the big debuts of Rock Band: The Beatles at the E3 conference last week, House of Heroes offers a 3-song EP covering some influential songs from The Beatles, including “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da“, “Can’t Buy Me Love“, and “It Won’t Be Love.” One nice thing about the EP is that the group clearly realized that the songs have already stood the test of time and, rather than giving them a complete overhaul, just added a few minor touches of their own personality into the mix, reminding us all of the power of the songs that redefined rock and roll and changed America.
THE REAL END (FOR NOW)
So that’s House of Heroes in a Bucket (of Bullets). Most of their albums are available on iTunes by searching for House of Heroes. House of Heroes Meets the Beatles is available on Tuesday, but can be pre-ordered now.
peace… love… bdg…