For the first time in the 22 years that I have graced this Earth with my presence, I don’t live in Texas, or as I fondly refer to it as, the greatest state in the world. And while I am happy for the opportunity that led to my move, I miss Texas every day. But the one thing that I can always count on to remind me of that wonderful place is music. The Lone Star State has presented us with countless incredible musicians, so for this 3 Of The Week, I present to you tracks from a few of my favorite artists from my home state. And for any Texas readers, feel free to send me a Whataburger and a six-pack of Lone Star because I’m dying over here on the East Coast without them.
1. “Lost Boys” – Driver Friendly
Having went to college just outside of Austin, I’ve seen these guys live more than any other band, and it makes me so happy to see them getting the exposure and recognition they’ve deserved for so long. “Lost Boys”, from their newly re-released record Bury A Dream, is a perfect encapsulation of what makes Driver Friendly so great. It’s an infectiously bouncy pop song that combines fuzzed out guitars and a blaring horn section, and the refrain of “Bury a dream, watch it grow” is impossible not to yell along to. I believe in Driver Friendly. You probably should too.
2. “Preaching To The Choir Invisible, Part I (What Do You Think Happens When We Die?)” – Quiet Company
In my first semester of college, my friend happened across a Quiet Company CD on the quad, and they quickly became one of our favorite bands. The band has a huge local following in Austin, as they should, because their engrossing of horn-infused indie-rock is top-notch. It honestly takes a lot for a band like that to stand out to me among the endless see of like-minded bands across Austin, but Quiet Company really nails that sound in the most interesting way. This particular track begins in standard indie fashion, but slowly morphs into something far different, before exploding into a breathtaking finale, sparred on by the cathartic release of the line “We are all where we belong”. The final minute and a half of this song is perhaps one of my favorite moments in any song I’ve heard.
3. “Pocket Full Of Stones” – UGK
Living near Austin led to me really embracing the music scene there, but I have to give love to my hometown, Houston, aka the greatest city in the greatest state in the world. H-Town, your traffic is awful and your teams perennially break my heart, but regardless, you blessed the world with so many great rappers (and also Chamillionaire, but we pretend that never happened). Love you Screwston. Don’t ever change.
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