Their first releases were very limited vinyl singles on various different small, indie, and some now defunct, record labels, although 555 records who released '(The) Weight' in 1998 is still alive.
In 1994, record labels Fluff and Slumberland released Hood's first full length album, entitled 'Cabled Linear Traction'. It was a landmark for the band, some still say it's their best album. It had similarities to bands like The Cure, Sonic Youth and Pavement.
The album was issued on CD in 1999 by Slumberland, who also released 1996's 'Silent 88' album. The latter was similar sounding to 'CLT', but with much more experimentation going on and far more use of electronics.
A collection of limited and rare singles was put together by Happy Go Lucky records in 1997 and released on CD and vinyl, the vinyl version coming with a free 7" record.
In 1997, Domino Record Co snapped up Hood and released the single 'Useless'. A lo-fi indie electronica affair, not too dissimilar to the aforementioned '(The) Weight' released the next year.
Around this time Chris was releasing instrumental electronic material as Downpour, often involving heavily distorted drum and bass.
After another handful of singles and eps for Domino, they released the album 'Rustic Houses, Forlorn Valleys' in 1998. A dense, dark and tension building album, sounding somewhere in between Labradford, Mogwai and Massive Attack and produced by the band and Matt Elliott from Third Eye Foundation.
A year later came 'The Cycle of Days and Seasons', once again produced by Matt Elliott. With an ever changing line up still revolving around the two brothers, the sound of the band changed yet again, moving further into indie electronics.
Colaborating with friends Doseone and Why? from the Anticon collective came Hoods 5th studio album 'Cold House' in 2001, their most well known and collectively appreciated ablum. It contained elements of Post Rock, IDM, Indie as well as Doseone and Why?'s voice and lyric talents. Features the single 'You Show No Emotion At All'. Released on Domino.
In early 2005, Hood released 'Outside Closer', an emotional journey through ambience and hip hop beats. More line up changes occured, meaning this album was yet again different to the previous. Taking influence from The Remote Viewer, Prefuse 73 and Empress (the singer of which appears on the album). The tracks 'The Lost You' and 'The Negatives' were released as singles, featuring b-sides and videos for the tracks.
Since the release of 'Outside Closer' Hood have toured with Why? promoting his new album 'Elephant Eyelash' and released various remixes.
During 2006, Gareth S Brown, who played in the aforementioned tour, has been working on a solo album, due for release in November on Richard's girlfriend's label Misplaced Pets.
Currently due for release on record label anticon, is a solo album from Hood lead singer Chris Adams under the name of Bracken. The lead single from the album, titled 'Heathens', is due out in November, the album, titled 'We Know About the Need' follows in January.
In 2007 Richard Adams formed a side project The Declining Winter which has spawned a 7" The Future Sound of Hip Hop parts 1 and 2 and an album Goodbye Minnesota.
There are no plans for any further Hood releases.
You're Worth the Whole World
Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(?)
The hearts you've ever dropped
He chews your own arm off for a drop, the glass absorbs your pain
By the speeding dash line crash
But the hearts are empty, you have no paint and that's the point
It's blank city baby where the buildings get stepped on
Now the barbers don't courtesy hairwash
But the Devil will crop just your long hair
And the Devil's (?)
(?)
My dimes are full
I carry a sad dollar
They play me six Decembers
If you can cast my face for any paint that's left
I feel so (wild?)
The lyrics to Hood's song You're Worth the Whole World are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. They seem to touch on themes of desperation, pain, and loss, and suggest that the singer has experienced some kind of trauma. The opening line suggests that the singer is facing a word bank and has to fill in the blanks, perhaps indicating a feeling of being lost or uncertain. The line "The hearts you've ever dropped" suggests that the singer may have let people down in the past or caused others pain, and may be haunted by guilt or regret.
The next line, "He chews your own arm off for a drop," is particularly striking and suggests a kind of desperation or addiction. The reference to a glass absorbing pain suggests that the singer is using alcohol or drugs to cope with their troubles. The line "But the hearts are empty, you have no paint and that's the point" suggests that the singer is feeling numb, disconnected, or empty, and that this may be part of their struggle.
The rest of the lyrics continue in a similarly oblique and evocative vein, with references to empty buildings, fading red carpets, and a devil who crops hair. The line "I carry a sad dollar" is particularly poignant and suggests that the singer is struggling financially as well as emotionally. Throughout the song, there is a sense of world-weariness and despair, but also a glimmer of hope that things might get better. Overall, the lyrics to You're Worth the Whole World are enigmatic and open to multiple interpretations, but they convey a powerful sense of pain, struggle, and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Face a word bank and fill in the blanks
You are presented with options and must choose which fits best
The hearts you've ever dropped
People you've hurt in the past because of your own flaws
He chews your own arm off for a drop, the glass absorbs your pain
Self-destructive behavior to distract from emotional pain
By the speeding dash line crash
In the midst of chaos and confusion
But the hearts are empty, you have no paint and that's the point
Emptiness can be desirable because it indicates a lack of negative emotions or experiences
It's blank city baby where the buildings get stepped on
A place where people are overlooked and mistreated
And all the red carpets they fade
Fleeting nature of fame and success
Now the barbers don't courtesy hairwash
Social norms and expectations have changed over time
But the Devil will crop just your long hair
Evil forces will take away what is most important or valuable to you
And the Devil's (?)
The Devil is always present and can cause harm in unexpected ways
(?)
Unknown or uncertain
My dimes are full
Financially secure
I carry a sad dollar
Despite having money, there is still sadness or emptiness
They play me six Decembers
Time seems to pass slowly and without progression
If you can cast my face for any paint that's left
Looking for any sense of identity or meaning
I feel so (wild?)
Uncertainty or lack of control over one's emotions or circumstances
Contributed by Jasmine I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.