One of the first lessons they teach you in film school is that you sometimes have to “kill your darlings”. It’s a term that means no matter how much you love a scene you shot; if it doesn’t fit in the film, it ends up on the cutting room floor. In 2009, The Mother Hips rescued a short stack of 2-inch analog tapes from a Los Angeles basement and started picking through hours of material, most of it recorded around the era that produced 1995’s Part Timer Goes Full and ‘96’s Shootout. They were thrilled with what they heard. In fact the band was so prolific during this period that literally dozens of top-notch songs were shelved and never saw the light of day as the group continued to spit out new material with machine gun rapidity. Now the band has compiled the cream of this lost crop into this eleven-song treasure trove titled Chronicle Man.
The Mother Hips, the center of which is the duo of Tim Bluhm (vocals/guitar) and Greg
But most of all, what comes through loud and clear is that The Hips have already left us with an incredible legacy of music, from their stunning 1993 debut Back To The Grotto to 2013’s Behind Beyond (their eighth studio album). 2011 saw a four (!) CD retrospective compilation of all previously unreleased material called Days of Sun and Grass-- a special treat to their fans for all their support over the years. And the fans aren’t alone in their admiration of the impressive catalog. The Mother Hips have garnered critical acclaim from the likes of The New Yorker, Mojo, Relix, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, among many other outlets, over the years.
The album kicks off with the dark ramble of “Desert Song,” for years a forgotten and oft-whispered about mythic ode to sojourners of the West. Next up is “El Pancho Villa,” a one-time live show favorite that takes the early Bee Gees and rides them hard over a fuzzy, shambolic groove. “St. Andrew,” with its' historical lesson and downer country vibes, is the Hip’s feel in a nutshell. From the jackhammer hard rock of the title track to the organ-laden blues raunch of “Headache To Headache,” Chronicle Man’s reintroduction of these unearthed gems will satisfy old fans and newcomers alike. Please step up and give it some of your time and attention.
Chronicle Man is due out on July 15th on Mother Hips Records, available on Digital, LP and CD.
And par usual, the Hips have tour dates coming up. Here they are:
May 9th, 2014 |
THE MOTHER HIPS SIXTH ANNUAL FAMILY HIPNIC |
Big Sur, CA |
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May 10th, 2014 |
THE MOTHER HIPS SIXTH ANNUAL FAMILY HIPNIC |
Big Sur, CA |
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May 15th, 2014 |
SOHO |
Santa Barbara, CA |
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May 16th, 2014 |
BOOTLEG THEATER |
Los Angeles, CA |
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May 17th, 2014 |
MOE'S ALLEY |
Santa Cruz, CA |
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May 20th, 2014 |
SIERRA NEVADA BIG ROOM |
Chico, CA |
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May 21st, 2014 |
SIERRA NEVADA BIG ROOM |
Chico, CA |
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May 23rd, 2014 |
CERVANTES' OTHER SIDE |
Denver, CO |
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May 24th, 2014 |
CAMPOUT FOR THE CAUSE |
Bond, CO |
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May 25th, 2014 |
MEADOWGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL |
Colorado Springs, CO |
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June 19th, 2014 |
TERRAPIN CROSSROADS |
San Rafael, CA |
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June 20th, 2014 |
TERRAPIN CROSSROADS |
San Rafael, CA |
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July 3-6 , 2014 |
HIGH SIERRA MUSIC FESTIVAL |
Quincy, CA |
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August 1st, 2014 |
GUITARFISH FESTIVAL |
Soda Springs, CA |