Chico Fellini has arrived...

If you live in Lexington, KY then you know Chico Fellini. You know Emily Hagihara’s bass, Brandon Judd’s drums, Duane Lundy’s guitar and Chris Dennison’s voice. Most definitely Chris Dennison’s voice.

Perhaps Lexington's most ambitious band since The Scourge of the Sea, Chico Fellini has been going full speed ahead since their inception in 2006. Shows haven't been abundant, yet they have spanned the country, with the band playing CMJ and any of the local and regional dives that were worthy.

Though they had been hard at work for over a year polishing and perfecting their sound, the band seemed to have truly come into their own through their preparation for and their performance at Lexington's Beaux Arts Ball in 2008 (they will reprise their victory with another set at this year's Beaux Arts!). Only one who has attended a Beaux Arts Ball can understand the magic that takes place there. It’s an alternate reality with everyone in a costume of their own making, engaging in what seems to be a nonstop dance party, with the drinks flowing freely… it's impossible to describe and a tragedy to miss. To imagine what it must be like on that stage with hundreds of the most devout fans that money couldn’t even buy, could blow one’s mind. The result skyrocketed Chico Fellini into the studio to finish writing and recording their super ambitious, self-titled debut album.

Chico Fellini consists of nine songs in total, running a mere thirty minutes in length. Though the album is brief, it packs an undeniable punch. Chris Dennison’s vocals are undoubtedly the star, ranging from operatic to soaring falsetto; Dennison covers the bases that no one else does. He seems able to channel a thousand genres with one note, creating a sound and style all his own. Dennison’s vocal style and range bring to mind some sort of androgynous alien being, whose goal is to simply rock our socks off! Imagine Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons) at his weirdest, David Bowie at his most theatric, and Matthew Bellamy (of Muse) singing his hardest and you might have an inclination as to what Dennison is capable of.

Of course, Dennison is only part of the equation. Without his band, his voice would fall flat and thin, and that is what makes Chico Fellini such an impressive machine. No one can exist without the other. The four work together for one common goal; it is a dark, persistent, pulsing, and forever melodramatic goal, which they reach hand in hand. With Lundy’s piercing lead guitar, never too shy to make its way to the forefront, and the thundering, yet understated bass and drum work laying everything down and then keeping it all in check, no stone is left unturned.

Fact is, Chico Fellini is not for everyone. The androgynous but overt sexuality of these songs aren’t fit for the faint at heart and despite the fact that songs like “Despite The Mix Up” and “Electrolyte” are just as infectious as any current pop offering their non-traditional delivery and content will leave some folks scratching their heads. However, somehow I don’t think that appealing to the masses is anywhere near this band’s goal. Simply put, their quirks and theatrics will inevitably drive some away while endearing them to others. Which one are you?


Chico Fellini - self-titled

1. Despite The Mix Up
2. Electrolyte
3. Can’t Deny
4. Hot
5. Prelude
6. Down The Up Ladder
7. Control
8. No Strata
9. Uli

Chico Fellini will be released to the world Tuesday, March 24th and the band is having their CD Release Party at The Dame in downtown Lexington tonight, Saturday, March 21st!

Chico Fellini with Jupiter One and Oblio
Saturday, March 21st
At The Dame
156 West Main St.
Lexington, KY 40507
Doors at 8 p.m.
Show at 9 p.m.
$6
21+
Facebook event

All In Endeavors all the time.

In Endeavors is none other than 5 strapping, young, future superstars from our own metropolis of Lexington, KY. Master songsmith and lead guitarist Clifton Keller never fails to impress with his hook-laden, dance rockers. The band is hot to trot as they perform in support of their You've Got Your Friends, I've Got Mine EP, featuring a bevy of tunes that channel The Strokes at their most inspired. If you want to remember what it's like to be moved to dance to rock music then don't miss In Endeavors.

As of tomorrow night the band is starting their marathon run of three shows in two nights, the last of which is the release show for their new EP. Don't miss 'em!

In Endeavors live:
Thursday, January 8th - C.P.R. (8 p.m.)
w/Noisycrane, Pineapple Explode, Blueberry Fist and Matt Katzenmeijer

Thursday, January 8th - The Dame (11 p.m.)
w/500 Miles To Memphis, Matt Duncan and Cari Clara

Friday, January 9th - CD Release Show @ The Oleika Temple
w/Emarosa, Of Machines, Very Emergency, etc.

Visit In Endeavors on MySpace for more info.

The hills of Kentucky...

Dickie Haydon - Hunger Pangs EP review

To look at Dickie Haydon, with his shaggy hair and pointy-toed boots, you might think he would be writing songs that sounded more like Bishop Allen or Rogue Wave than oh, say… Willie Nelson, but you would be mistaken. Having lived in Lexington since he was 4, Haydon considers himself a bona-fide Kentuckian and has always been quick to cite the Bluegrass as being one of his greatest inspirations.

Haydon is also the primary songwriter in band Petticoat, Petticoat, which also includes Kristin Messina and Jackson Silvanik. While the music of P,P and Haydon’s solo fare are unquestionably the product of the same mind, it’s easy to see why they are two separate projects for the man. The songs on Haydon’s debut solo EP, Hunger Pangs, range from the exceptionally personal (“Tabitha,” an ode to Haydon’s beloved doggie that recently passed away) to those storytelling songs that invoke images of times long ago.

It’s the intimacy of these songs that ultimately make them so alluring; Haydon is first and foremost a writer, a poet even. The words and the cadence with which he sings them are what catches the listener’s ear and makes them long to listen again. Every one of Hunger Pangs’ six songs has a beautiful nostalgic air about it, and no one can resist a bit of heartwarming wistfulness.

Fetch a copy of Hunger Pangs, with artwork by Kristin Messina, at CD Central or directly from the artist.

Tracklist:
1. Little Red Canteen
2. Miles
3. The Girl With Leather Teeth
4. Tabitha
5. Do You Truly Believe In Us??
6. No One Will Know My Name

Check out Dickie's myspace page for 5/6 songs from the EP and, while you're at it, check out
Petticoat, Petticoat's page as well.

It'll blow your mind away.

Noisycrane - Portmanteau album review

Noisycrane has evolved a lot over the past year; it started as the solo endeavor of lead singer/guitarist Cody Swanson, but soon grew with the accretion of Sean Rose on drums and Jon-Austin Tharpe on bass. In the early days of the band, with Swanson and Rose performing as a duet, they sweated post-punk rawness, but with additions to the band and the natural evolution of their combined songwriting, it has become clear that where there has always been depth, there is also a degree of inherent sophistication as well. The band’s self-recorded and produced debut album, Portmanteau, is proof of that.

“Carnival,” the album’s shortest and only instrumental track, features accordions, xylophones, and saws all singing together, embracing just the right amount of whimsy and mischief. “123” is a prime example of a band at their best; the music and vocals compliment one another perfectly and the d.i.y. production seems to lend itself perfectly to the tone of this specific song. Throughout the ten tracks on Portmanteau, Noisycrane has illustrated that music doesn’t have to be insufferable to be interesting! Far from it, in fact.

Portmanteau is for sale at CD Central and at noisycrane.com.

Tracklist:
1. Trust The Moon
2. I'm Walking Through The Room And You're Asleep
3. Carnival
4. Hold Out Love
5. Room Alone
6. Your Shape
7. Walking And Stalking
8. 123
9. You Are Royalty
10. Smooth And Calm

Check the band's myspace page for musical samples.

Do do do do do doooooo

The High Water Marks - Polar album review

It’s been three years since The High Water Marks’ debut album Songs About The Ocean was released; at long last the follow up, Polar, is finally here. The disc is 13 tracks long and is being brought to you by Athens, GA label Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records.

Anyone who has ever heard the band before knows what they’re all about, the hook-laden, guitar-driven, bouncy pop tune. Polar delivers all that and more.

The fact that all four of the band members were involved in the recording process adds an obvious dynamic in the songs that some on SATO seemed to be missing. Per Ole Bratset and Hilarie Sidney both seem more comfortable in their singing here than ever before, regardless of which of them is taking the lead. Check “Galaxy Galaxy Galaxy” for a wonderful example of a pop band at their best, with everyone shining.

While Polar is ultimately following in the footsteps of its predecessor, it is also breaking a lot of new ground for the band with the slicker, more hi-fi recordings, and further incorporation of delightful alternative instruments.

Check out the band's myspace page for a preview of the title track and pick up your own copy of Polar at hhbtm.com.

Tracklist:
1. Polar
2. The Leaves
3. Early Fall
4. Song For Emigrants
5. Simple
6. Galaxy Galaxy Galaxy
7. Finding Clovers
8. Dutch Tape
9. Roadside Revival
10. Poison Remedy
11. For Sirkel
12. Sirkel
13. Etter Sirkel

Introducing ...

Tony and I did a cover of The Apples in Stereo song "The Shiney Sea" (from Her Wallpaper Reverie) some months ago for an upcoming Apples Tribute (details are hazy). It wasn't really an IFD or Melody Function project so we chose the #1 in our running list of best band names ever and we are now The Veronica Vaughns. Expect more VV to come.

Until then, check the cover:

In the Courtyard

Optical Atlas has a great interview with Craig and Tony (isn't he attractive?) of the ever-amazing Ideal Free Distribution! It's very informative and illuminates much of the recording techniques used on the new album.

IFD at Athens Popfest 2006!

Ideal Free Distribution @ 40 Watt in Athens, GA 8.12.2006


More Popfest videos all recorded by Chris Yetter.

New NEW Melody Function demo!

We at The Melody Function and Ideal Free Distribution are doing all that we can to bring the people more sleigh bells. I believe it's what the world needs now.

Melody Function - Something I Know

New Melody Function demo.

A new Melody Function demo, "Simple Sounds", was completed just last night. It's possible there will be a few slight changes to come but it is basically finished for all intensive purposes. This song is one in the series of Tony's Mexican rock opera. All of the rock opera songs were written in Am and are very dark and booming. Lots of droney feedback with psychedelic guitar riffing but, as always, they still contain that bit of pop to pull you out of the psychedelic k-hole, the flute in this case.
It's funny, when I listen to this song I hear explosions going off in my head (mostly during the in-between verse riffing) yet the lead line is a flute. Now THAT'S a good song!
Tony and Joe have been working on a new Zombies-esque organ based song that is going to be delightful. I'm excited.

Melody Function - Simple Sounds

Make me armored for the places I've been.

Scourge Of The Sea – Make Me Armored review
4 out of 5


Scourge of the Sea formed in 2004 and is comprised of Justin Craig, Andrew English and Robbie Cosenza. With their debut album, Make Me Armored, they single-handedly inspired the legendary Alias Records (American Music Club, Archers of Loaf, Yo La Tengo, etc) to awake from their slumber and release their first album in a decade.

Make Me Armored was released late last month and has since topped their local independent music stores’ bestseller lists week after week. I don’t know if it’s their modest, but not too precious pop songs, or the fact that they are very cute and charming fellows, but everyone loves to support these guys. The album features 10 finely tuned pop songs ranging from the slightly delicate “Waterwings”, the light and folky “Hookers”, to some harder fare with “Chocolate Chips”. “Chasing Roses” exemplifies English’s best vocal work and is one of the album’s most complex and intriguing songs, alternately hopeful and haunting. The vocal and guitar melodies contained within the song are perfectly complimentary and are so seamless that your ears will be smiling for days after listening to this song.

The songs are all arranged beautifully with complimenting tambourine hits and intriguing keyboard melodies in addition to the traditional drum, bass and guitars. The instrumentation on this album sounds so well put-together and the arrangements just make so much sense that it’s hard to believe these songs haven’t existed for thousands of years already. In addition, the lyrical abilities of these guys are infinite. What really catches my ear and warms my heart is when I hear English sing tender words like “I don’t need to smoke with a fix like you”, “…and I loved your lips on your overbite” or when Cosenza mentions his “waterwings and a cable knit sweater”.

With such striking imagery and coordinating harmonies, Scourge of the Sea may be putting bands like the Fruit Bats out of work.

English and Cosenza alternate writing credits and vocals, each singing lead on their own creations. English tends to take his listeners by the hand and sing in their ears while Cosenza seems as content standing in a corner yelling at the top of his lungs. Cosenza’s songs are not as intimate as English’s but certainly no less heartfelt. Showcasing two such different vocalists adds a layer of significance and versatility to the band as a whole; they aren’t limited one type of vocal. It’s almost as if they can be two bands in one, which only makes listening to them that much more interesting.

Scourge of the Sea - Out of the Trash
Scourge of the Sea - Smitten Kitten