Modern Art
Houston, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
...the second one is from a group called Modern Art. This self-titled debut album is indeed a treat. The first song off the album, "Yesterday In The Rain" kicks off with a mellow rock/jazz feel with some tasty guitar work. Styles vary on this album from mild to wild. Songs like "Your Own Picture", "Off Track" and "Monkey Love" come across with more of a straight ahead rock feel. Other songs like "Love Is Blue" and "Back To The Sky" have more of a mellow feel to them. Then there's the heavier rockers like "The Jackal's Shadow". Of course there is also songs that defy description such as "5/3" which starts out soft and slowly rises to a heavy crescendo of sound, and the hidden track, "The Genie's Wish", which...well, you'll just have to listen to it to make your own decision. One thing that we have to mention about this album is the great guitar work that abounds on this album, backed up by a solid rhythm section. There is a lot of great production on this album and it was no doubt produced and recorded with great lengths taken to insure this kind of quality. It's a great rocker from a good tight band. Check them out around town sometime. - Music News
Discography
Modern Art
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Bio
Modern Art was formed in 1983 by two high school skateboarding buddies, Kelly Tharp and Duke Patterson. It started with an epic jam session at a friend's house with a stranger for a drummer. The two realized a connection immediately, as did all who were present, and went on to form this virtual "musical marriage". It began as more of an outlet for Kelly's uncanny songwriting abilities, and remained more focused on original studio recording for many years. In 1997 the band realized the benefits of the local club scene for promotion and began playing mixed cover and original gigs in Houston and the surrounding areas. They released their first CD in 1999. The self titled album was recorded and produced by the band at Art Farm Studios, then taken for post production mixing and mastering at Sound Arts Studios. Later that year, they opened for national recording artist Hadden Sayers at the Party On The Plaza in downtown Houston for a crowd estimated in excess of 3500 people. They continued playing mixed gigs with various drum players until 2001, at which time Kelly and Duke mutually agreed to take some time to each pursue some different personal endeavors. In 2007, the two rejoined forces to form a pure cover club band called Group Therapy. They played several shows in Houston under that name into 2008, at which time the drum player left the band. The position of drum player within Modern Art has always been a challenge, and when once again faced with a void, Eric Barnett's name was mentioned. Eric had jammed with Kelly and Duke many times, but his relocations due to military service made it impossible to put something together permanently. However, at this point he was back home for good, so the transition was seamless. All members feel that the band is now truly what it was meant to be. Since Eric joined the band, they have played numerous shows in the Clear Lake/Bay Area at such venues as EJ's Sports Bar, Heads n Tails, Palapas, etc. Currently, they are working on their 2nd album, ElectroNatural, which will be complete by Spring of 2011.
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