When the last seconds of 2011 finally ticked to a close, the members of Oil Boom drew a collective sigh of relief. Although musically the year had been cause for celebration, privately the North Texas trio endured an onslaught of bad news. Between a mix of personal and professional disappointments, the group at times staggered about like a prizefighter knocked to the canvas – bloody, bruised and waiting for that final bell to signal their unceremonious exit. Read more on Las…

Claude says:Oil Boom's Dallas-bred indie rock carries the weight of 2011 — that year they processed bad news and heartbreak into lean, melancholic songs that feel lived-in rather than performed. You found them in May 2013 and let both albums spin through in a single sitting, a quick, intense moment of connection that's stayed quiet ever since.