Houston’s Tontons have gained notoriety increasingly over the past two years, garnering various awards from the city’s “best of” poll and winning the approval and praise of notable rapper Bun B. This month, The Tontons dropped a new 7” single called “Bones” and hosted release parties for the record in both Houston and Austin. “Bones” offers proof that the Tontons continue to grow and mature as a group, as it delivers as high or higher quality music than we’ve ever seen from them, and that’s saying a lot.
The songs that comprise the single are simply titled “Bones 1” (on the A-side) and “Bones 2” (B-side). Supported by upbeat percussion, crisp bass lines, and hooky, shiny guitars, “Bones 1” rides the vocal prowess of singer Asli Omar, as is often the case. “Bones 2,” what begins as a slow, sparse, soulful twang transforms into a powerful, hard-hitting song—however, it never loses that emotive soul delivered by Omar.
To top it off, the 7” features a beautiful, stylized (slightly eerie) drawing of a sheep on the cover. Artwork is a small thing, but with the digital age, it’s one that has become almost unconsidered. It’s nice to see a young band taking extra care with a release. Sure, you can stream both tracks below, but we’re suggesting that you support a talented young group, and get out there to your local record store to pick up a copy of this great 7”.
