December 5th, 2008
Consider: Ho-Ag’s Doctor Cowboy
Dearest of friends,
With the end of 2008 upon us, I know that it’s about that time of year that you’re wondering — “Was there anything I missed? Was there anything that I feel like I need to extrapolate on a little bit more before we head into the next year’s worth of bands?”
I know the answer — it’s Ho-Ag’s Doctor Cowboy.
Doctor Cowboy came out in August but I think it’s time for everyone to revisit the thing and remember the days when it dropped, like a fiery ball of anti-matter, from the heavens. You know? It’s more or less one of the most exciting things recorded this year and if you disagree, write me back and I’ll send you a jar of plutonium.
The second half of the year for Ho-Ag — great. Shows all around New England, a trip to the ever-inspiring CMJ Festival with So Many Dynamos, We Versus the Shark and Pegesuses XL, an East Coast tour with Alternative Tentacles spazmos Triclops!, a night on the town in Boston with Marnie Stern and Talk Normal… The thing was near the top of local and college radio charts for 7 straight months to date in Boston. Everyone is doing just fine, thank you.
Anyway — listen again. This album deserves another mention.
Press for Doctor Cowboy:
“The band’s core sound is still rooted in the punk, new wave, and metal sounds of the ’70s and early ’80s, but increasing musical sophistication leads to more involved arrangements, with slower tempos on occasion and more of an emphasis on the imagistic lyrics. New members Kristina Johnson on guitar and Ryan Brown on bass add considerably to the group’s chops, with Johnson even pitching in on vocals on “Drawing the Boundaries of the Night” and Brown not only anchoring the sound but also acting as the lead instrumentalist on occasion. Tyler Derryberry continues to add spacey electronic effects, and the band retains an affection for science fiction soundtrack elements. It’s all in support of leader Matt Parish, whose voice cuts through no matter what music surrounds it, and even when the vocals have been filtered and processed for an alien effect. There’s still plenty of speedy hard rock on Doctor Cowboy, but Ho-Ag is evolving into a more mature outfit here.” ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“Ho-Ag at their quintessentialest. Morse codes of unadorned synth, weird eddies of guitar, all sorts of melodic fits and starts, and vocals that swerve between delirious auctioneering and tribal incantation — it’s the musical equivalent of a big cartoon fight cloud rolling down the street.” THE BOSTON PHOENIX
“They’re actually quite good. They remind me a lot more of old Dismemberment Plan yet more bizarre, making good use of synth, theremin, quirky riffs, and offbeat vocals. While that sentiment certainly describes much of their older material this new release finds them getting a bit more expansive, longer, slower songs showing off some interesting qualities of the band. Midway through the CD “Drawing the Boundaries Of the Night” exercises this idea and ends up being the best song on the record. Clever riffy interplay is present elsewhere, and the whole ordeal, overall, is an interesting quirky listen.” HEX ZINE
