Forgotten Hard Rock Albums: PARIAH "To Mock A Killingbird"

[AlphaMale]

New thread idea. Going to pull a forgotten band and CD out from the 80's or 90's to discuss. Maybe get the disc a few new fans.

Today's forgotten CD is "To Mock A Killingbird" by the band PARIAH.

Released in 1993 by Geffen Records

I really liked this disc. It was a breath of fresh air in the glut of crappy bands and the beginning of grunge/alternative.

Here are a few of my favorite tracks:

 

 

 

 

[AmMaLaYa]

It's been a long time since I heard this album. Doubt I still have it lol

[All Nights Reserved]

I didn't know there is another Pariah other than the British metal one. This one is not bad either.   

[AlphaMale]

These guys were from Texas. Had a killer demo tape in 1989. 

[AlphaMale]

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pariah-mn0000790506

Vocalist Dave Derrick, guitarists Kyle Ellison and Jared Tuten, bassist Sims Ellison, and drummer Shandon Sahm (the son of Tex-Mex legend Doug Sahm, incidentally) met in high school in San Antonio and began playing together with various lineups. Eventually settling on the name Pariah (not to be confused with the English heavy metal band), their live show earned them a regional following, and a contract with Geffen soon followed. After repeated and frustrating delays, Pariah's debut album, To Mock a Killingbird, was finally released in mid-1993. But it arrived minutes too late to capitalize on the hair metal craze (then in its death throes thanks to the advent of grunge), and the disappointed musicians soon went their separate ways. Tragically, Sims Ellison would commit suicide two years later after moving to Los Angeles -- the victim of depression. The Sims Foundation was founded in his honor to provide health care to Austin-area musicians.

[martinsane]

This was is a really solid band and I have enjoyed their releases. I have an earlier (1992) indie CD called Make Believe which was the precursor to TMAKB and had some rougher mixes of tunes that got cleaned up for the major label/soul crushing release.

[AlphaMale]

3 hours ago, martinsane said:

This was is a really solid band and I have enjoyed their releases. I have an earlier (1992) indie CD called Make Believe which was the precursor to TMAKB and had some rougher mixes of tunes that got cleaned up for the major label/soul crushing release.

Man, I need to find this!!

[Geoff]

A pretty forgettable album, in all honesty... but not that bad when you sit down and listen to it. Still, probably not a keeper for me. I thought 'Letter To Myself' was a pretty decent ballad. 

BTW, Russ, great idea for new topics. I'd thought about stuff like this - discussing old albums at random - for a long time, and this is a great way to do it.

[AlphaMale]

On 12/20/2017 at 5:46 AM, Geoff said:

A pretty forgettable album, in all honesty... but not that bad when you sit down and listen to it. Still, probably not a keeper for me. I thought 'Letter To Myself' was a pretty decent ballad. 

BTW, Russ, great idea for new topics. I'd thought about stuff like this - discussing old albums at random - for a long time, and this is a great way to do it.

Thanks Geoff. Trying to keep the music talk alive!

[Crazysam]

On 12/11/2017 at 7:46 PM, AlphaMale said:

New thread idea. Going to pull a forgotten band and CD out from the 80's or 90's to discuss. Maybe get the disc a few new fans.

Today's forgotten CD is "To Mock A Killingbird" by the band PARIAH.

I really liked this disc. It was a breath of fresh air in the glut of crappy bands and the beginning of grunge/alternative.

I had read good things about them before they were signed.  But when this was originally released the album cover made me think it was an alternative or grunge style.  I decided to take a chance on it and was glad I did.

[kourosofsteel3]

Pariah from Florida is better than the Texans by a country mile