Erin Hobson

The song-writing team of Hobson and Ross churns out catchy melodies and evocative syncopations that never cease to surprise. From alt-pop, rock, Americana, funk to folk and a world music sound, their one-of-a- kind ensemble weaves tapestries of intimate, thought-provoking musical fare with unexpected lyrical depth and sensitivity alongside Hobson's smooth, cozy croon.
The new album's live feel comes from its basic DNA- live tracks that are big and wide: Not coincidentally, in keeping with the buzz about The Compact's consummate musicianship and startling live performances.
In an industry saturated with the robotic creation of musical commodities, The Compact takes a quantum leap away from the current norm. One earful of their rich colors, precision-perfect textures and adventurous solos will keep you coming back repeatedly to pick up nuances you may have missed the first time around.
Hot on the heels of 2009's highly-acclaimed Talk Radio, the uncategorizable Fortune Cookie Philosophy (TBR 2011, Choking Chicken Records) is a welcomed collection for Triple A and college radio. Uplifting, eclectic, and tight with stellar mixes, Fortune Cookie combines aspects from different generations of music into a sound that's fresh and new. The tunes are punchy, clean and diverse-- grown up but decidedly not old. - Sharon Nichols