Brittany Howard, “What Now” (2024) – Cousin Brit set the bar for 2024 with her album full of deconstructed art-soul; bits bang, but she never luxuriates in any of the grooves for long, always moving.
High On Fire, “Cometh The Storm” (2024) – Matt & Co. are still dealing absolute heat even as the band is old enough for the good rental car rates.
Kim Deal, “Nobody Loves You More” (2024) – Simultaneously everything I could have wanted from a Kim record under any banner, and having enough distance from The Breeders to be distinct. Who knew that a low-key mariachi backing band would compliment Kim perfectly? (She did.)
Amber Mark, “Comin’ Around Again,” “Space & Time,” “Lovely Day,” “Loosies” (2024) – Amber casually drops torchy bangers like other artist post Reels (or whatever). Feels like she’s building toward something and I cannot wait to find out what.
Mr. Furious Records had our 20th birthday in September, and this week on Dat Fury Radio Cory and I began the belated celebration; listening to the entirety of the mr|signal compilation from the beginning.
It’s been quite a while in the works and I’m excited to get it off the ground. Four episodes are in the can and ready to schedule once I see some plays on the teaser. From there I’ll be working with Mr. Furious Records and Datura Records artists and friends on shows, and filling in the gaps with whatever strikes me.
Back in 2016 I developed some modifications for the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone. This widely available and affordable distortion pedal has sold thousands upon thousands of units, despite a reputation for sounding absolutely terrible.
In the video below I demonstrate these mods.
Can it sound… good?
You can read about these mods in much more detail over at Mr. Furious Audio (Simple Dog / God of Cake).
I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure I remember clicking that fateful click from a dark office at the far end of a hallway inside Wayzata Community Church. (Would make sense, as it was a Tuesday.)
There is a celebration brewing in my imagination for the coming weeks.
In the meantime please welcome Josephine Cumulus “Josie” to the label, who joined our family yesterday. She is super sweet, but doesn’t hold very still for selfies yet.
There’s not a ton there, but the news updates track us through 2003-04, there’s a couple photos on the “Multimedia” (!!) page, and the color scheme sure takes me back.
It’s website redesign day! Everything should remain available but might look weird; have some patience as I work <3 -h
4:01 PM CST – I’m about done for the day. I will keep picking away in the coming days and weeks, but I’m satisfied enough with the functionality and look that I’m going to leave the new theme up. Enjoy, and get in touch if you have any issues or feedback! -h
On Daniel’s implied request, Dharmic Beams is the first release to go back up on major streaming platforms through our new digital distributor. I’m planning to do a set of 3-5 more in the coming weeks, possibly including a new one!
Over the weekend I ran into VB, Paul B’s mom at the library event (Hi, Paul! She said you check the site but I wasn’t sure which one so I’m posting both on the main MFR site and the howie&scott sub-site. Very cool that you keep tabs on us, I had no idea!). For Paul and everyone else I wanted to post an update on recent-ish and upcoming music Scott and I have made / are making, since it’s not all under the h&s name.
“V for Voice”, our 2019 comeback record –
“An Evening at Home with Howie and Scott,” our deep pandemic stay-at-home EP –
As Mr. Furious Records approaches twenty years, we’re looking at a significant reboot.
The wind-down I planned and carried out last August hasn’t wound up again yet, for a lot of reasons. The adoption plan Cari Ann and I were a part of failed (sounds harsh, but that’s the term of art in the field). I had a health scare (I’m fine). Mom got sick and died, and I continue to help Dad in the wake of that. Amber died shockingly, suddenly. It’s been rough!
It’s time for another evolution over at The Long Play Listening Party. Then, just this week, I learned our streaming distributor is shutting down and we’ll need a new one of those. Oh, right, so:
AS OF APRIL 15 LINKS TO OUR MUSIC ON SPOTIFY, YOUTUBE MUSIC, DEEZER, APPLE MUSIC, TIDAL, AND AMAZON MUSIC WILL GO DEAD
BANDCAMP, AS ALWAYS <3 <3 (LONG LIVE BANDCAMP), WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE
Black Milk, “Everybody Good?” (2023) – “Everybody Good?” was the first I heard of Black Milk, and after it knocked my socks off I started going backward through his discography to see when he got so amazing. The answer? Allllll the way back at the start. RIYL/FFO Q-Tip, Lupe Fiasco
billy woods & Kenny Segal, “Maps” (2023) – Five minutes in (“Soundcheck”), I knew this was my AOTY, and I never really doubted it in the months after. And when you get to “Hangman” and “Baby Steps”?? Whoooo! RIYL/FFO Madlib, Boldy James, Armand Hammer, Open Mike Eagle
Sines of Exquisite Pleasure, “Modular Systems” (1982) – Aptly named, these long-overlooked synthesizer and piano jams helped center me many times this year. RIYL/FFO Abul Mogard, Alessandro Cortini
Aesop Rock, “Integrated Tech Solutions” (2023) – Endless, generous brilliant bangers from the dean of rap studies. RIYL/FFO MF DOOM, Del the Funky Homosapien
