Rowland S. Howard is a name that should ring throughout the halls of gloom-trodden rock n' rollers; discouraged former-goths of the 80's should have a framed portrait of the man on their mantle beside their respective Poe omnibus. Howard's guitar work helped shape the Aussie-punk-fused roots of what would echo throughout The Bat Cave for decades to come- he's the very definition of an unsung hero.
A founding member of The Birthday Party, which went on to spawn Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, JG Thirwell and the likes of Lydia Lunch, Howard's angular, slow-rolling approach to songwriting conjures the knock-down/drag-out aesthetic that's been lost to music for far too long. His world-weary drawl echoes across each film noir-worthy ballad on his second solo album, "Pop Crimes".
Released posthumously (after losing his battle to liver cancer) stateside, Howard's unintentional swan song is a strong, engrossing collection of cohesive tragedies weaved amidst his patented cynicism. "Pop Crimes" is a disaffected record- it demands nothing of you and expects even less- but its thread-baren honesty and brood-worthy shuffle seduces you without warning. Thank you Rowland, your songs are the words that ghosts whisper in starstruck city alleys.
Grab your copy of ROWLAND S. HOWARD'S "POP CRIMES" HERE!!!
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