speed of dark

My first post about MySpace friends had some success, so I'm doing it again. It could become kind of an irregular feature. MySpace certainly has its frustrations and limitations, but for me it is also a candyland of fine new musicians that I can actually contact.

Today I'm featuring three of those whose music I have come to enjoy immensely. I play these songs often, and I hope you'll like them too. All three have had releases within the past calendar year that are available to purchase as albums or individual songs. I think there will be more good stuff to come from each of these bands.

Mouthful of Bees

This Minneapolis foursome's CD The End, released just a month ago, offers a variety of musical styles from gale-force rockers ("Get Out") to echo-y folk ("Upon Reaching Cedar Falls, IA"), all with a solid base in the 90's alternative style that I like. Singer Chris Farstad has a kind of warbly voice that reminds me of early Talking Heads' David Byrne. Good? You betcha!

Mouthful of Bees: The Now
Mouthful of Bees: Under the Glacier

Also highly recommended: "Talking", "Sunny," "Old Gold," and "I Saw a Golden Light."

myspace | website | Buy: emusic

Upcoming appearances:
Mar 19 2007 - Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 24 2007 - Walker Art Center Scavenger Hunt, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 24 2007 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 1 2007 - 89.3 The Current (tune in!!) - Minneapolis, MN
Apr 14 2007 - We All Have Hooks for Hands, Sioux Falls,SD
Apr 20 2007 - Off The Record-Radio K, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 21 2007 - Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, MN



Head Like a Kite

Seattlite David Einmo was inspired by his family's home movies to write a whole album of weird songs with titles like "Your Butt Crack Smile" and "Interested in Worms?" Accented with weird bleeps and rhythms, the songs are playful and intriguing, although not all equally listenable--for example, I much prefer "Smile" to "Worms." An unknown female vocalist appears on some songs like the disturbingly titled "Tell Mommy You Want a Sip of Beer" and "Noisy At the Cirus."

Random Portraits of a Home Movie was produced by Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, The Secret Machines, Iron & Wine) and includes guest appearances by members of Smoosh, Kinski, The Posies, Crooked Fingers, Preston School of Industry, Sushirobo and others.

Amazingly, Einmo is taking this stuff on the road with Trent Moorman on drums, keys, and sampler.

Head Like a Kite: Words of a Friend
Head Like a Kite: Tell Mommy You Want a Sip of Beer

Also highly recommended: "Noisy At the Circus" and "Butt Crack Smile."


myspace | website | Buy: itunes, emusic



On tour:
Mar 30 2007 - The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
Apr 6 2007 - Sportscenter, Yakima, WA
Apr 20 2007 - Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT
Apr 22 2007 - Contemporary Arts Center, North Adams, MA
Apr 23 2007 - Black Cat, Washington DC
Apr 24 2007 - Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA
Apr 25 2007- Carnegie Mellow University, Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 26 2007 - TBA: New York, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, New York
Apr 29 2007 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
May 3 2007 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
May 5 2007 - Monks, Salt Lake City, UT
May 8 2007 - Cinepsace DIM MAK Party, Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA
May 10 2007 - Casbah, San Diego, CA



sharpetiquette

At first listen you might think that the bare-bones sound of this lo-fi acoustic Los Angeles act would not hold your interest very long, but you'd be dead wrong. The spare sound serves to frame some very sharp lyrics that get you hooked in much faster than you'd imagine. The Sufjan Stevens influence is apparent, and on their MySpace site you'll find a very nice cover of Death Cab For Cutie's "I'll Follow You Into the Dark." I've included some of the lyrics to "Old Eyes," which makes me think of a couple of well-known female celebrities who seem to spend most of their time screwing up their lives and getting their pictures in the tabloids.

sharpetiquette: Old Eyes

It's hard to argue with millions sold

It's hard when what you think you were told

It was only a matter of time

Ideals, they don't turn on a dime

She has old eyes, old eyes

Young face, but still it's hard to hide

She has old eyes.

Freedom isn't in the magazines

Free isn't here, only where she's been

The truth is only neatly-packaged lies

We're left to look like we're surprised

She has old eyes

Also highly recommended: "She's In My Blood" and "Don't Leave Me Hanging Here."

myspace | Buy: itunes, emusic