A Seat Belt Holds Me Tight The Eleventh Hour: Hour Hand: The Lost

A Seat Belt Holds You Tight

Sawyer McFarland

Sawyer McFarland is a senior who is passionate about writing and creating stories. He often writes psychological fiction. Authors such as Fyodor Dostoevsky and Philip K Dick have influenced him.

Every time the truck comes to a stop, the momentum inches Bjorn’s body closer to his steering wheel. His seatbelt holds him back, his butt goes slightly up, and then whoomph he’s pulled back down again. He pushes against the gas pedal, turning his wheel, speeding up only to have to slow down again in front of his first house. The first house belongs to a quiet family–a father, mother and two children. All the lights are off, the curtains closed, the only thing out of place is a car missing in the driveway. Bjorn sits there for a second, staring out his cabin’s window, shaking himself awake as he presses the mechanical arm button. The arm comes down, missing the trash can. Annoyed, Bjorn forces himself to exit the warm comfort of his heated cabin and leaps down the twofoot gap into the road. “What a way to start the day. Seriously–if only people could place their trash bins on the actual street,” he grumbles to himself. He moves the trash bin under the arm, presses the mechanical arm button again, this time finding the trash. As the can lifts, he looks at the house and imagines what it would be like to be the father returning home from work… The two kids running around…Staring with bright eyes, their faces pressed to the windows…Watching him as he parks in the driveway, and running into his arms before they sit down for dinner… Later that night, he’d say goodnight to them…He’d kiss his wife…and–“Skrrgh, svrrggh” he’s quick to turn around as the mechanical arm clangs in place, unable to release the can. He climbs up and unhooks the bin, places it back on the street. He climbs back in his cozy cabin, turns on the ignition, and with a resounding groan of metal on metal, pushes down on the gas pedal.

The Eleventh Hour: Hour Hand: The Lost Years

Phoebe Barrientos

Phoebe Barrientos is a senior who is passionate about mystery novels; Agatha Christie is one of her favorite authors. Recently, she has also become increasingly interested in biographies.

Their second album spawned “2 and a half successful singles,” in the words of lead singer Michael David. “Do You Love Me Dear would have topped the charts, if not for the sudden turn away from disco that the pop world was taking,” he said in a 1990 interview. Do You Love Me Dear rose to number 22 on the Hot Dance Pop Charts upon release, and could be heard occasionally in clubs. The danceable melody belied surprising compositional depth; DJs purportedly had a tough time using the track because the instrumentals didn’t segue well into other songs.

The modest success of Do You Love Me was somewhat of a disappointment after the first two singles from the album. Amanda charted number 5 on the Hot Singles Chart, but the real gem was Fear of Your Wonder. Their sole chart-topper, Fear of Your Wonder’s dark bass lines and surprising rhythms were far ahead of their time. Johnson Steve’s guitar solo has been noted by many as an inspiration.

Despite chart presence and radio time, the album sold poorly. The album cover, which featured the bassist’s art, may have been a turn-off, David has acknowledged. “We didn’t have much of a budget. So Ken whipped up a quick sketch, and before we knew it, it’s being shipped out...Ken drew the first draft on hotel toilet paper.” Ironically, the physical album is now a valuablecollector’s item. Planet Labels stopped producing albums due to their low sales, then dissolved in 1987. Only a few thousand albums from the original run were ever produced.

Hour Hand never did follow up on the greatness of their second album, despite highexpectations. Internal disputes delayed both tours and new material, chief among which was an attempt to oust main songwriter Steve from the group due to his struggle with addiction. On Nov 2, 1984, Steve was checked into a rehabilitation center, just 4 days before the band was set to perform at the VMAs. They pulled out a day later. Bassist Ken Gains said, “Wehad one rehearsal where I tried to play guitar. We called to cancel after five minutes.”

During Steve’s absence, the remaining members wrote enough material to produce another full album, according to two of the three interviews they took in 1986. However, a Planet Labels officer later denied that an album was in production. In 2004, the band’s producer called the material “an embarrassment if it ever got out.” By the time Steve returned, the group was ready to welcome him back into the fold.

Hour Hand released just one more single, the new-wave tinged “Sardonic,” which failed to crack charts. The track would have a minor resurgence as a 2011 internet meme on YouTube. But until this year, a major retrospective on their seminal work has never been attempted.

The Eleventh Hour: Hour Hand: The Lost Years is a 2 DVD and 3 CD set, collecting contemporary and exclusive interviews, performance footage, remasters of Hour Hand’s entire discography and a stunning collection of never before released songs and demos written from 1982 to 1989. Pre-ordering now. Coming 2022.

“Write me of hope and love, and hearts that endured.”

— Emily Dickinson