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.
the leaves grow old and fall and die
Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's (?)
Somehow beautiful in itself
A sympathetic smile
Tells me it's all too late
It's all too late
We're outside in the rain
Hit by a car
So gracefully
Beautiful in itself
How you made the point
It's all too late
It's all too late
Beautiful in itself
Now it's all too late
The lyrics to Hood's song "the leaves grow old and fall and die" paint a picture of a forgotten world that is still beautiful in its own way. The imagery of "leaves growing old and falling and dying" suggests a sense of inevitability, a reminder of the cycle of life and death that we all must face. The line "We're outside in the rain" creates a sense of vulnerability, as though the singer is exposed to the elements and the whims of fate.
The phrase "so gracefully" appears twice in the lyrics, first in reference to the car that hits the singer and later to the beauty that is found in the world despite its flaws. This duality is echoed in the line "A sympathetic smile tells me it's all too late," which suggests both compassion and resignation. The final repetition of the phrase "It's all too late" underscores the sense of finality and loss that pervades the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgotten world of (?)
A world that has been left behind, abandoned, and ignored - its history and existence forgotten.
There's (?)
There is something present or visible, yet unknown, uncertain, and mysterious.
Somehow beautiful in itself
Despite its forgotten and uncertain nature, there is still something truly attractive and lovely about this world. Its beauty lies in its very existence.
A sympathetic smile
A kind and understanding smile - a gesture of compassion and empathy towards something that has been lost or forgotten.
Tells me it's all too late
The smile seems to communicate that there is nothing that can be done - whatever has been lost is gone forever.
It's all too late
The reality of the situation is that there is no turning back or changing what has been lost or left behind. The burden of this finality is heavy and inescapable.
We're outside in the rain
The singer and someone else are standing in the rain, exposed and vulnerable to the world.
Hit by a car
Something has collided with them - a jarring and painful impact that has disrupted their sense of stability and safety.
So gracefully
Despite the chaos and pain of the impact, the response of the subject is graceful and poised - perhaps indicating a sense of acceptance or resignation towards the situation.
So gracefully
The gracefulness is emphasized once again - a reminder of the beauty and poignancy that can be found in unexpected circumstances.
Beautiful in itself
The impact, as painful and disruptive as it may be, possesses a kind of unexpected beauty and elegance to it.
How you made the point
The impact serves as a metaphor, a punctuation mark in the story, emphasizing the sense of finality and loss that has been present throughout the song.
It's all too late
The feeling of finality and loss is once again reiterated - a reminder of the irrevocable nature of time and change.
It's all too late
The realization and acceptance of loss is deeply ingrained and inescapable - a theme that has been present throughout the entire song.
Beautiful in itself
Despite the pain and loss, there is still a beauty and poignancy to be found in the world - a reminder to appreciate the present moment, no matter how fleeting.
Now it's all too late
The song concludes with a final note of resignation and acceptance - the realization that the past is gone, and the present is all we have left.
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben Ibbotson
This is brilliant, how come I've only found 'em now? Well, at least I've found them now, not in some other world.
Maria Krivogub
Perfect song for dooming revelation.
honcho emoji
this is so good
binsbein
wat