Unlikely Heroes

If you’re looking for new music over the weekend, look no further than Unlikely Heroes EP self-titled debut EP. A marvelous collection of conscious hip-hop with a psychedelic bend, the six-track album draws inspiration from everyone including artists like Kid Cudi to Rage Against the Machine. With witty lyricism and an unpredictable blend of psychedelia and punk-rock, the EP brings to life a multi-dimensional soundscape of pure awesomeness.

Stream the undeniable EP and watch the mesmerizing visual for their lead single, “Sun”, down below. - AfroPunk

Unlikely Heroes is a psychedelic Hip-Hop/Punk band from Oakland, CA. This band has been making waves in and outside of their local scene with exciting/introspective jams that leave concert goers physically drained and mentally well-fed. They are releasing their self titled debut EP 5/18/18 that has been long awaited for by fans and playlist curators throughout the U.S. and overseas. This band has been compared to a unique blend of rapper Kid Cudi and band Rage Against the Machine for their witty/catchy conscious lyrics and unique blend of psy-punk beats that flow seamlessly even in their genre stretching style. - TEDx - Movement

Lose yourself in the boisterous rage of four-piece punk rock band,
Unlikely Heroes. Formed by Enon Gaines (Lead Vocals), Atlix Martinez (Lead Guitar), Ruth Marin (Bass), and Jeff Wilson (Drums, Unlikely Heroes is a fearsome fusion of hardcore rock, hip-hop, and punk energy. Based in the Bay, the San Francisco band stands out from their local competition with their lyrical social consciousness and existential mindful compacted with some visceral live instrumentation that takes on a life force of its own.

Check out a few tunes, below, and follow Unlikely Heroes on Facebook and Soundcloud for more. - AfroPunk

Enon Gaines, frontman of Bay Area indie-punk-hip-hop band Unlikely Heroes, is an enigma. At one moment he is exuberant, then the next shy and vulnerable. At another point he is overflowing with confidence, then a few minutes later full of humble praise for those around him.

Unlikely Heroes was formed in 2015, following Gaines' winning the music category of the Los Angeles Times’ Inspire Us competition with his song, “Gold Rings.” Winning the competition led to Gaines being invited to perform in LA. “I didn't want to go down there and just do a DJ set,” he recalls. “I actually felt like I wanted to do something a little bigger. That's when I started recruiting people for a band.”

So he went about recruiting members for the band, and ended up finding a group of unlikely heroes to cast. The current lineup features two of the original members: guitarist Atlix Martinez, who has a background playing punk/metal, and bass player, Ruth Marin who was playing in a church band. “[With] that fusion of minds...you can come out with some really beautiful concepts,” he says proudly. The newest addition, drummer Jackson Blankenship, closes out the four-piece lineup.

I first encountered Unlikely Heroes in the spring of 2017 at Bottom of the Hill. Gaines and Martinez were down the front all night jumping, dancing, and supporting the two opening bands, Life Size Models and First in Flight. When Unlikely Heroes came on stage, their performance was full of bravado. Halfway through the set, Gaines threw off his top in a display of exuberance and then continued to party on stage more vociferously than before.

“When the music's playing, and it's time to perform, I just can't help it,” says Gaines. “The music we make pushes me to that...I just completely lose myself when we perform.”

This energetic performance style is in stark contrast to how Gaines can be on the morning of a gig. “On show days, I'm super nervous [and] don't really eat too much,” he reveals. “I just don't have an appetite for anything...[I am] internalizing everything for the show and it's like, [there is] these wound-up emotions and they're just spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning...until I finally I just want to perform.

“I'm excited to perform, but I just want to get it out of the way because it's like this nervous weight that's on me. And so, as this ball of energy inside me builds...it just pops out and I can't control myself and it's just wild. And we're going to be as wild as we want to be."

While the band has been around for a few years now, the music they make still feels new to the East Bay musician. “A big part of 2017 was finding who we are; really honing in on Unlikely Heroes and what our sound is and what it means to us to make this music,” he says. Gaines shares that he is still learning how to express himself within the Unlikely Heroes’ concoction of hip-hop fused with rock music. “I come from just a pure hip-hop background. So, learning to adjust and write songs with rock choruses or punk choruses and all these different changes are kind of unique to me,” explains Gaines, who released an album, Physicool, under his rap moniker phenomENON in 2013.

Gaines thinks deeply about the music and what it means during our conversation. He becomes studious when talking about the finer details of the band’s music. It is as if he has this clear picture of how the music should be in his head, and he will not stop until he finds the correct composition to recreate it. Each word he says out loud on the topic appears to trigger a new idea for how he can refine and mold Unlikely Heroes’ future music: singing styles, writing styles, and instrumentation. This dedication to detail has also influenced his writing, which he feels is more “deeply personal.”

“Coming from hip-hop, I value bars. I value storytelling,” he says. Gaines discusses how he deals with forms of depression, and how songs can serve as a form of therapy. “It's almost like me against me, and I'm fighting my demons, and I'm writing about that,” he shares solemnly while also crediting his bandmates for creating riffs and melodies he could “flow over, and that gave the music depth.” Unlikely Heroes’ music reflects Gaines' own dynamism: It's a rush of emotions, raw, energetic, and free.

Unlikely Heroes have a busy schedule for 2018: a new EP recorded, a music video released, and a partnership with Airbnb which produced "Neon Jungle" — the band seem to be constantly moving. Gaines brims with excitement as he talks about finally being able to realise the years of hard work Unlikely Heroes has put in. “No one is going to fuel your dreams and drive that,” he says poignantly.

From creating designs and submitting songs, “people will never hear about you if you don’t submit it.” To planning music videos and social media, Gaines plans to keep grinding for the music he believes in. “I just love it! I don’t want to do anything else...I feel like I grind like no other, and I know it’s going to pay off.” - The Bay Bridged

Packaged with their upcoming debut EP, Unlikely Heroes created stunning visuals for their lead track “Sun” in which they recruited ballerina Leilani Neal-Ramos and music video director Josh Fields (Hatch 86 Films) for a wild black light rager!

“Sun” sounds quite contradictory to the title but is actually very relevant. Just as the sun rises, the sun sets. This track sets the tone for the EP taking the listens down to a darker place with just a glimmer of hope. Unlikely Heroes continues to push the limits adding ballet to their psy-punk vibes to challenge their musical style, not only in song but in dance.

This is one of the most beautiful voices we have heard in recent weeks, Song lyrics are meaningful. we believe that this artist will make a name for him over the next few years. - xKira Music

“Sun” takes me back to my days where I went to check out the oddest, most ‘Alternative’ artists ever. It didn’t matter if it were in New York City, Michigan, Colorado, Los Angeles or Europe, I made it a point to be there. The Unlikely Heroes remind of that time in my life. The more creative freedom you have, the more you tend to express yourself. I see it is the case with the video for “Sun”. The group enlists a ballerina (Leilani Neal-Ramos) for a night of fun. “Sun” is from their upcoming EP. - GrungeCake

Unlikley Heroes go hard. They create immersive musical experiences with hip-hop, punk, rock and roll beats, and fever-high energy. This time they're doing it in collaboration with Airbnb, on Saturday February 3 at the legendary Hyde Street Studios.

Dubbed "Neon Jungle" for the blacklight-activated body paint the band sports for some shows, this show will straddle the line between concert and performance art. Special guests from various genres are promised. The event is BYOB, but blacklight body paint is provided.

Airbnb started their "Music Experiences" initiative last year, offering curated events to their guests (and the public) in 13 cities internationally, a number that has grown throughout the year. - The Bay Bridged

San Francisco punk/hip-hop outfit Unlikely Heroes gave a hell of a ton of energy at Bottom the Hill last Friday night, May 12, 2017. From the first notes of the night it was energy at 11 throughout the whole show. Along with them was San Jose band Life Size Models and First in Flight. Check out the excellent gallery below of all three bands from the night by our own Robert Alleyne. - The Bay Bridged

It may come as a surprise to younger folk, but there was actually a time when hip-hop artists and punk bands would cohabitate, and even play shows together. Starting in the 70’s and early 80's, oppression, poverty and political resentment converged, leading to a surprising amount of collaboration and acknowledgment between such counter-culture renegades (“of Funk” lol, had to).

“Main stream” innovators of the cross-over genre are often attributed to the early works of the Beastie Boys, with the most credit given to the 1986 rehashed hit “Walk This Way”. But if we’re talking about the purest convergence of urban and punk culture, that first cannot and will not be taken from the Detroit born pioneers of proto-punk, Death. (Seriously, a band of black dudes making punk music IN DETROIT could not have been easy in the 70’s. Mad respect)

Flashing forward through an endless sea of 90’s rap-rock garbage that was Limp Bizkit, Crazy Town and countless others, Rage Against the Machine stood the only victor. Since the fabled 99’ Woodstock disaster, few hip-hop/rock bands have emerged, let alone hip-hop/punk bands. This gaping void has made way for such unlikely heroes as...Unlikely Heroes.

Unlikely Heroes is Hip-Hop/Punk Rock band from San Francisco, Ca. This eclectic group is synthesizing Hip-Hop and Punk with beats and melody that are fresh, exciting, and long waited for. Boasting high energy, venue rocking jams, they find balance with spacey, vibey anthems to create a well-rounded sound and depth in their form. Comprised of members Enon Gaines (vocals), Ruth Marin (bass), Atlix Martinez (guitar) and Jeff Wilson (drums); these Heroes truly cater to their “more than meets the eye” appeal. Aesthetically, they are a diverse group with a wide range of cultural and musical backgrounds. Sonically, they are insane Hip-Rockers that can cater to any crowd or venue without losing their power in translation.

Cited as “A moshpit of no bullshit punk and hip-hop born on the streets of San Francisco” (SF Gate), the Heroes’ presence cannot help but be felt. Lead singer Enon Gaines is the x variable in the equation. With a Kid Cudi-esq sound and flow, Gaines drives each track along with the high energy backed punk triplet. Martinez’s lively arrangements slap the auditor with classic punk grooves giving way to tooth grinding solos and bridges. Marin is a lick-laying female bassist who frequently contributes backing vocals and Wilson’s speed and power often shines through the mix.

The Bay-Area quartet was slated to release their debut EP in 2016, but has yet to gift the world with their inaugural declaration. Collecting accolades along their journey including winning the Music City - San Francisco Battle of the Bands and Virgin Mobile/America FreeFest Freestyle, the band is clearly stamping their name on the scene. Frankly, we are bursting with anticipation in wait for their future sounds. Connect with Unlikely Heroes on their Official Site, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. - District Da Capo

Twenty-eight-year-old Enon Gaines is sitting behind a white desk in a peach-colored cubicle at the San Rafael headquarters of software firm SafetyChain. Eleven other cubicles dot the room, which Gaines refers to as "a mini cube farm," and light reflecting off a manmade lake outside glimmers through the windows.

It's a Wednesday afternoon and, like millions of other people, Gaines is at work. This April marks his one-year anniversary as a project manager for the "food safety and quality operations" company, and his seventh year working in the tech industry as a whole. (Before SafetyChain, Gaines worked at a teacher accountability company in San Francisco.)

After the one-hour commute from his home in Vallejo, Gaines usually arrives at the office around 6 a.m. At 3 p.m., he heads home, where he transforms from techie to musician.

"I live a double life," says Gaines, who raps and sings under the name PhenomENON. "Once I'm done with work, I spend the rest of the day writing songs, listening to beats, rehearsing, and playing the guitar."

Gaines has been writing and creating music on the side since he graduated from high school. Juggling the two alter egos can get tiring. If he could quit working altogether and focus on music full-time, he would. But, alas, being just a musician is "not enough to support my living," he says.

For most of last year, all of Gaines' time after work and on weekends was spent writing, rehearsing, and recording his upcoming EP, Clairvoyant.

"Anytime I'm not at work, I'm working on music," he says.

And sometimes when he's at work, too. Though he makes the bulk of his music at his Vallejo "bachelor pad," he finds time when necessary to sneak in a few songwriting sessions in the cubicle.

"When I hear something, I don't want to lose that moment, so I try to make sure to shut everything off at that time to cater to it," he says. "Because I don't want to lose that idea. It could be the next big thing for me."

A little under a year ago, Gaines also formed a band called Unlikely Heroes. After entering and winning the Inspire Us competition hosted by The Los Angeles Times for his song "Gold Rings," he was awarded the chance to play a live show at the University of Southern California. He was told that he could bring a DJ or a band to back him up for the performance. Though he'd used a DJ for past shows, he'd never before performed with a band.

"I've always been up for a challenge," he says. "And I thought a DJ would be too easy."

He had a little over a month to put together a band and teach them the song. Through friends of friends and Facebook followers, he found five musicians — guitars, bass, drums, and keys — and they met and started rehearsing a few weeks before the event. It sounds too good to be true, but the performance at USC went off without a hitch.

After that unlikely success, the temporary band decided to continue playing together. Over the course of 2015, the self-described "punk-rock/hip-hop" sextet played close to 30 live shows, culling their material from Gaines' previous works and through sheer improvisation. Gaines has since written five new songs for Unlikely Heroes, but maintains that it's not as hard as one might think to arrange a rap song for a live, full-band rendition.

Gaines grew up in Oakland and started rapping around the age of 18. His childhood friend Hot Tracks produced his first mixtape, High Hopes, around 2011. At the time, he says, "we didn't really know the formula for releasing things, so we were just throwing things out there." One of the places they "threw" their mixtape out to was radio station KMEL, which hosts a daily song competition called Home Turf aimed at promoting and highlighting local hip-hop and R&B. Two of Gaines' singles — "Hustlin'" and "All Right" — were selected as winners in the competition, resulting in radio play for both songs.

Buoyed by these achievements, he went on to create his first album PhysiCool (a combination of the words "physics" and "cool") in 2013. The 13-track album, which Gaines made available to download for free through Bandcamp, serves as an introduction to the young rapper, whose inspirational, confessional style is reminiscent of MCs like Kid Cudi and J. Cole.

Both the album and upcoming EP (which drops on May 10) are mélanges of beats and melodies that shift and transform from upbeat, tinny dance tracks to dark, staccato electronic jams. ("I like to be worldly in my productions," he says.)

His lyrics, on the other hand, are less varied and more consistent. Gaines, whose low, gravelly voice sounds unnervingly similar to the singer Baby Bash, has a knack for covering the quotidian and banal, which he feels makes his music more relatable and applicable for his listeners.

"I really speak out about my dreams and beliefs and try to be as vulnerable as I can in my music," he says. "I can't relate to a lot of Drake's songs where he's talking about being in the club, popping bottles, and throwing all this money because I don't have a lot of money to throw and I'm not popping any bottles and I don't have a lot of hoes. I speak on a level of consciousness that I feel the greater population deals with, and I try to form it in a way that caters to the mainstream."

Gaines' other goal when making music is to depict himself accurately to his listeners — to keep it real without exaggerating. When he first started writing raps, he penned a song about "a Lamborghini or Ferrari." Looking back, he laughs at that early attempt, which "doesn't make sense because I don't have any of that," he says. You won't find songs about him carrying a "nina" or shooting up the block, but he will write songs about gun violence, friends who have been killed by guns, and the importance of being aware of your surroundings and protecting yourself.

He also keeps it clean. He doesn't use the word "bitch" to refer to women, nor does he degrade them by turning them into sexual objects or stereotypical rap tropes. And though he does use the N- word in some songs, he does it seldom, and at the expense of using other swear words. (When he does live shows, he claims that out of the entire hour-long performance, there are usually only 20 words that need censoring.)

"I make music that my grandma could appreciate," he says. "Overall, I try to keep things positive." - SF Weekly

Let’s say you open a blender jug up and you throw in some classic punk like Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones, then, for shits and giggles you tossed in some full throttle hip-hop ala Snoop Dogg, Ice T and Eminem. You then hit blend, the result would be somewhere in the vicinity of San Franciscan locals Unlikely Heroes and their new single Up For Days. It’s a raw, anarchic pumper from this Northern Cali quartet and a ripping 3.5 minutes of high energy fun! - The Lowdown Under

Unlikely Heroes

Your feet stick to the floor a bit as you try to make your way to the bar before last call. There's sweat dripping down the brick wall and your hearing is completely blown. But everyone you see around you has a big grin across their face. Hair askew and wet, it's the look of rock and roll, baby. It's the Unlikely Heroes experience, a mosh pit of no bullshit punk and hip-hop born on the streets of San Francisco. "Up For Days" is the first single from the band's EP due out in the Fall. - Kaffine Buzz

At an early glance, it appears hip-hop artists are embracing this brave new attempt to both simplify and monetize the production and distribution of their talent. "Wix has been a staple in our strides to expand reach to current and prospective supporters of our music movement, and creating a home base for our audience," explains Enon Gaines, of the group Unlikely Heroes, who recently completed a session with nomad studio, Jam in the Van. - Huffington Post

For an up-and-coming emcee, Enon Gaines has a lot to be proud of. His songwriting and solo performances have taken him a long way already; his tracks have gotten radio play, he’s won awards from LA Times and Virgin as a lyricist, and he’s played an extensive number of shows throughout the bay area. Despite his already impressive resume, though, the thing that Enon should be most proud of is the band with whom he’s surrounded himself. His partnership with Unlikely Heroes is a savvy project that takes his indie-rock influenced hip-hop to a new level with live instrumentation. Their energy and cohesion on stage is remarkable, as proven by their victory at the Music City Battle of the Bands in July of 2015 which landed them a spot at the Culture Collide Music Festival.

Unlikely Heroes as a group are every bit as interesting as Gaines. Their arrangements are the result of an extreme variety of musical backgrounds coming together to create an accessible sound that brings PhenomENON to an entirely new level. Possibly the most appealing aspect of the group, though, is the way that they interact with each other. Enon is clearly the band’s leader, but his respect for the musicians around him is palpable. It’s clear that he wouldn’t put his work in the hands of musicians who he didn’t trust completely to do it justice. And just as Enon’s admiration for his bandmates is apparent, so too is theirs for him. For a band that oozes its own personality, Unlikely Heroes shows a remarkable devotion for their frontman and leader. Even from one interview, it’s clear that the group has a family-like relationship that will help them greatly in their promising future. Tune into the full interview to hear them on Music City Radio! - Music City Radio

Unlikely Heroes was the winner of the July 10th 2015 Battle. They lit up the stage at the end of the night. The room was primed from the previous performances, and when the band hit the stage the room ignited. PhenoMENON lead his band through hard rocking hip hop tracks reminiscent of Talib Kwali’s lyrical flow and Cypress Hill’s rock/metal edge. - Music City SF

With so many genres of music in today’s world it’s exciting to hear a band that brings an array of influences into one collective expression. With Unlikely Heroes you’re in for a mash up of hip hop, rock n’ roll, punk rock and alternative, that come together in a new sound that is starkly original. We’re looking forward to a fiery performance at Friday’s BOTB‘s

Meet Unlikely Heroes. - Music City SF

What advice would you give other independent artists?

The advice that I would give others would be to remain consistent and continuously renew your creativity. In the music industry, especially as an emerging artist, you're going to hear "no" more often than "yes." A lot more. Whether it's a song submission, blog writeup, performance slot etc., being turned down numerous times is a given.

The key is to not lose faith or doubt your ability based on how others view your craft. This will build resilience, humility, strong character, and a good attitude. I've been trying to get posted on Pigeons and Planes for over a year now and have never been selected, but that doesn't deter me from interacting with them and remaining consistent in my craft. A "no" doesn't mean it will never happen...it just means that you will need to find another way to reach your goal and be patient for the right time. Patience is key!

Lastly, renewing your creativity, which I feel is equally important. What I mean by that is to continuously challenge yourself in what you do. Find ways to reinvent yourself by experimenting with your voice, beat selection, song structure, rhyme pattern, etc. This is important in artist development. You want to be able to listen to your previous project and your current project and immediately feel the growth that has come from the time you spend in developing yourself. Stay true to who you are and what you do, but always try to outdo yourself and better your craft. Originality is key in this department, as there are many artist that tend to venture in lanes that aren't your own. People want something new and its up to YOU as an artist to give it to them. - Pigeons and Planes

Fresh off of the LA Times Fest stage, rapper Phenom Enon drops his new single “Alright” featuring Kuwaiti artist O-Zone and production from Max Million Beatz. The Bay Area emcee is also adding the finishing touches to his sophomore album, Clairvoyant that’s scheduled to release sometime soon. Press play below! - See more at: http://crystalannick.com/blog/2015/04/phenom-enon-alright-ft-o-zone/#sthash.PnGuy7x3.dpuf - Crystal Annick

From culture to music, the Bay Area has always done its own thing; gaining notoriety for both it’s thriving indie scene, as well as their innovating contribution. While the rest of the country has always been a tad late catching the beat; the ‘Yay Area’ as it’s affectionately known as, has continuously left their footprints in the sand; whether you acknowledge them or not.
Oakland native EnonThaPhenom is much and the same, focusing on creating a quality project and simply waiting on everyone else to finally check their pulse and nod their heads to the beat. Still riding high on the waves created by “Hustlin,” an infectious track that made a smooth transition into the summer; the newcomer recently released his debut album PhysiCool far exceeds the box that many would like to place the “New Bay Area” in.
Not interested in labels he’s simply trying to find his own lane. “PhysiCool is defined as the natural ability one has in being one’s self,” he advises. In essence, stay cool. - Day and a Dream

From culture to music, the Bay Area has always done its own thing; gaining notoriety for both it’s thriving indie scene, as well as their innovating contribution. While the rest of the country has always been a tad late catching the beat; the ‘Yay Area’ as it’s affectionately known as, has continuously left their footprints in the sand; whether you acknowledge them or not.
Oakland native EnonThaPhenom is much and the same, focusing on creating a quality project and simply waiting on everyone else to finally check their pulse and nod their heads to the beat. Still riding high on the waves created by “Hustlin,” an infectious track that made a smooth transition into the summer; the newcomer recently released his debut album PhysiCool far exceeds the box that many would like to place the “New Bay Area” in.
Not interested in labels he’s simply trying to find his own lane. “PhysiCool is defined as the natural ability one has in being one’s self,” he advises. In essence, stay cool. - Day and a Dream

California spitter phenomENON makes his mark with "Hustlin," a menacing, rumbling standout from his debut project, Physicool. A powerful voice and free-flowing delivery serve him well, as he establishes himself as one to watch for. Punchlines abound, and the screw-influenced ad-libs add another layer of energy to supplement phenomENON's charisma. Listen for yourself below. Check out the rest of Physicool via Bandcamp. - See more at: http://www.artisticmanifesto.com/2013/08/phenomenon-hustlin.html#sthash.axVmFdhC.dpuf - Artistic Manifesto

California spitter phenomENON makes his mark with "Hustlin," a menacing, rumbling standout from his debut project, Physicool. A powerful voice and free-flowing delivery serve him well, as he establishes himself as one to watch for. Punchlines abound, and the screw-influenced ad-libs add another layer of energy to supplement phenomENON's charisma. Listen for yourself below. Check out the rest of Physicool via Bandcamp. - See more at: http://www.artisticmanifesto.com/2013/08/phenomenon-hustlin.html#sthash.axVmFdhC.dpuf - Artistic Manifesto

Oakland, CA native Enon Gaines walks a pretty interesting line. On one hand, he’s a vocalist who can serenade a few panties off of a female crowd and on the other he’s a more than serviceable rapper with a bit of wit and charm. His latest mixtape PhysiCool dabbles in plenty of wide eyed synths and common trepidation about love, success and all ideas in between. It’s a pretty standard affair that bends upon cruising music tropes (“Space City” & “Too Life”), bedroom wooziness (“Skin Deep”) and tape bonus “Awake” which sprinkles in slightly archaic eggs popping on decent vinyl with bass guitar licks and hardened kickdrums. The MTV-featured artist figures to crash more than a few items with his latest project, might as well get on board before the train gets full. - Day and a Dream

Often a fan looks to hear more than just good music when listening to an album – we hope to understand who the artist is. By the time the final track is played we want to be able to say we know a little more about the person behind the lyrics. Since PhenomENON wrote each song on his album you are guaranteed these results! - U BLUSH

Often a fan looks to hear more than just good music when listening to an album – we hope to understand who the artist is. By the time the final track is played we want to be able to say we know a little more about the person behind the lyrics. Since PhenomENON wrote each song on his album you are guaranteed these results! - U BLUSH

It is obvious that this particular newcomer has taken to music like a big fish to a small pond. You might not know it, but that song you were shaking your hips to at many Sac bars and clubs was probably one of PhenomENON’s. A smooth voice accompanied by appropriately bold beats from HoTTraXxX, the music is well timed and honest. - CBS

It is obvious that this particular newcomer has taken to music like a big fish to a small pond. You might not know it, but that song you were shaking your hips to at many Sac bars and clubs was probably one of PhenomENON’s. A smooth voice accompanied by appropriately bold beats from HoTTraXxX, the music is well timed and honest. - CBS