Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974

It’s remarkable enough that the resident band of Houston’s Kashmere Senior High School (led by bandleader Conrad O. Johnson) was unusually prodigious, blasting out J.B.’s-esque funk before they were old enough to purchase cigarettes. But the fact that they could pass for seasoned vets with their music transcends the novelty of youth and holds them up as a genuinely tight unit. Originals like “Headwiggle” and “Kash Register” bristle with all the intensity you’d expect from a bunch of kids gleefully realizing they’ve become skilled players.