(YUSS - TWO FOR TUESDAY REVIEWS!) Sometimes we are concerned that people misinterpret our affinity for the cover song. It’s true, whenever we are able to point one out (or organize a ten band festival where people play nothing but them) we seem to take the opportunity to do so. It’s not because we don’t value or enjoy the hell out of the original compositions folks come up with around town, it’s more like the insight it gives us. Surely the most potentially boring but crucial and frequently riveting part to any story is the tale of how a particular character or person got to be the way they are. What influenced them before they came into a position to influence others. This is part of why we enjoy the cover, the insight it gives us into how a band got the sound, the swagger and the strut (or lack thereof) they ended up with. But its not just that. We enjoy, in a particularly well done rendition, the respect and the reverence an interpreting act shows for the source material. How they take the composition and explore it separate from any kitsch of a cultural context and re-interpret it as something of its own merit (and not just something to earn a buck or get a laugh). The Mathletes once wondered aloud in a public forum (about themselves) “how many songs by other people can a band play before being considered a cover band” - and truth be told their shows contain a liberal sprinkling of re-interpretations of the works of others (to say nothing of last year’s “Own Other People’s Songs”, a compilation of many of their cover recordings over the years). But none of their signed, sealed, delivered renditions of the works of others are as dear to us as the tracks on We’re The Mathletes and We’re From Houston so How About That.

The four stunnahs on this extremely limited (ie - Sound Exchange counter-rack only) release are fresh takes on Houston’s finest: Jana Hunter, Young Mammals, Hearts of Animals and Bring Back the Guns. Each has the trademark quirky take on the classic, (and we bet that if you google The Mathletes, quirky is the top adjective used to describe them) and an injection of themselves into the pen and paper with massive amounts of deconstruction and plenty of genuine respect for the originals.  Indeed, given that an almost open cast of characters have played in the band over the past few years, it should already be obvious that the group has tremendous respect for the music and the musicians around them (members of both Hearts of Animals and Young Mammals have performed with them).  It’s hard to pick a favorite here, but at the moment we’re leaning towards their take on HOA’s “Underwater Staggie” with it’s massive droning shoegaze startup eventually giving way to clip a clap country sounds. It’s so rich. So very Richie Rich. Get you some.

PS - BRING BACK THE GUNS TRACK IS A PRE-TRUE AUDIO RINGTONE. GTFO!

As we mentioned an hour or so ago in the review of their other recent record, they are playing for free tomorrow (Wednesday) at The Mink for free with Something Fierce - early show doors at seven. COSTUME PARTY!