Stanley Odd is an alternative hip-hop group based in Scotland combining live instrumentation with samples and loops. Formed in 2009, the band have supported acts such as Arrested Development, Sage Francis, The View and played at major Scottish festivals including T in the Park and Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party. Their first album was released in May 2010 on Circular Records. Their self-released follow-up, "Reject", was shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year Award 2013.
Releases
''Oddio''
Their debut album, Oddio, was released in May 2010. The release met with favourable reviews, Scotland on Sunday stating "These Scottish hip-hop standard bearers sound much more relevant than the mighty Eminem, rapping stories that are social realism with a sense of humour and dance shoes."
''Pure Antihero Material''
The first EP of three released within the year, Pure Antihero Material, was released in February 2011. Building on the concepts of outsider-dom, awkwardness and social observation, the EP covers subjects from the UK coalition government, to a games console addict who controls the other people living in his building. With continued local radio and podcast interest, in addition to support from national BBC Radio One Introducing and Amazing Radio stations, The Skinny Magazine observed "In a sane world, Stanley Odd would be way more popular than Snow Patrol."
''The Day I Went Deaf''
The second of three EPs from 2011, "The Day I Went Deaf" was released on Circular Records in late October; showcasing a darker, more direct sound that reflects their creative production methods involving writing and recording as a live band, re-sampling their own recordings and then sequencing and rebuilding the sampled material.
''The Remix 11''
An ongoing project, The Remix 11 is a series of tracks that Stanley Odd have had remixed by producers that the band themselves are fans of. New remixes are made available for free download.
''Reject''
Released on 17 September 2012, the band's second full-length album revealed a further developed and more complete view of the band, both musically and lyrically. Covering topics from voter apathy and Scottish independence, to issues of a more personal nature and social references, the album was ranked 4th in the Herald's Top 50 Albums of the year, with Group Arts Editor, Alan Morrison observing: "The Edinburgh collective raises hip hop's game, speaking with the voice of a generation."
Touring
In their element live, Stanley Odd have been touring Scotland and the UK since 2010. Their 2011 performance at Insider Festival, was described in the Scotsman as "dazzlingly eloquent... a performance that had the crowd baying delightedly for more." In 2012, the band continued their work ethic of extensive touring, playing summer festivals including, Knockengorroch, Belladrum, Wickerman and Greenbelt. At the end of 2012, Stanley Odd won the Nordoff Robbins Tartan Clef Big Apple Award, ensuring that they would support The View at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in April 2013. This grew into a mini-US tour, playing Central Park and The Webster Hall as well as venues in Brooklyn and Boston. Headlined Stowed Out Festival 2016
