Halftime Parade "Minor Freaks and Other Side Show Attractions" cd (Death is a Dance Move/2006) + "Next of Kin"

Do you like indie rock? If so then don't waste a minute more reading this post just download Halftime Parade's Minor Freaks and Other Side Show Attractions and you will hear a absolutely fantastic indie rock album. Based out of Exeter, United Kingdom Halftime Parade play super catchy indie rock/pop that is a cross between  bands like Urusei Yatsura, Pavement, Superchunk and The Wedding Present. The first time I heard the song "Hate" with it's super infectious sing along choruses I was absolutely hooked and found myself hitting repeat quite a few times. The album is a cornucopia of sounds shifting from buzzing guitar indie rock to slow to mid pace crooners. Even some acoustic guitars are thrown into the mix.

Eventually my buddy Thomas joined the band as their drummer and I issued a split 7 inch for them and Marshall Teller (Thomas' other band). As a bonus I have added Halftime Parade's track from that split, "Next of Kin". As fas as I can tell Halftime Parade never officially broke up but from what I can gather are just inactive but still have a new yet to be released album called The World After the Day Ended due out on Russian Folk Stories. I have been listening to rough mixes of that album for the last two years and it is just an incredible collection of songs. When it officially comes out it will certainly be one of the best indie rock records to be released in the last several years. In the meantime check out this debut release from Halftime Parade that I am sharing with you folks today.

Halftime Parade Minor Freaks and Other Side Show Attractions track listing
1. Injuries
2. Random Road
3. Indoor Sunshine (Doors With No Hinges)
4. 36
5. Hot Hands of the Liplessssssssss
6. Hate
7. Never Guessed It Was
8. Tiniest Pieces
9. October Antelope
10. Recovery

split 7 inch w/ Marshall Teller
1. Next of Kin

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Imaginary Baseball League "The Letter EP" cd (Stagnant Industries/2002)

Back in 2002 my band Yes Sensei played in a basement Quogue with Radio Raheem and this awesome indie rock band from Nashville called Imaginary Baseball League. They were the coolest guys and the played really catchy indie rock that had a alt country vibe at times. Their music had an upbeat vibe for the most part but even live I could tell that the vocals and lyrics came from a different place as they were certainly more introspective. Lead singer Aaron Robinson is the driving force behind Imaginary Baseball League with a wonderful melodic voice that you can get lost in as it guides you through the songs. That is not to take away from the musicianship,as The Letter EP is filled with  smart, hooky melodies but never are the performances over bearing. There is a maturity and balance in Imaginary Baseball League's song writing that is seldom witnessed, I for one applaud it.

I picked up copies of this cdep The Letter  for the distro as well as myself and I am excited to share it with everyone today as it is a absolutely solid release. I tried keeping up the band's activities over the years and they continued on for a bit releasing a ep called Cardiact as well as a fantastic full length called Revive. Sadly by 2005 the band had broken up, however before they did the recorded the tunes for what would've been their second full length album. Kindly the band has put these tracks up on their website for free download. Check it out!

Imaginary Baseball League The Letter EP track listing
1. From Arkansas With Love
2. Paternize
3. Heal
4. Plaza of the Cats
5. A Song No One Likes
6. Posing For Stills

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Fire Engine Red "Demo" cd-r (self released/2000)

Considering I was waxing nostalgic over at Here On This Island today about the series of shows I booked at the North Shore Public Library in Shoreham that for today's entry I shall share with you the demo (and I do believe only recording) from a band who was the first out of state band to play at the library. Based out of Amherst, MA Fire Engine Red first came to my attention in early 2000 when they jumped on a show as a favor to my friend Thea who knew the band attending college with them. They joined Book Store, Space Robot Scientists and Bo Coach for an awesome show that led to and even better party at my house afterwards. (In fact photo evidence is in the liner notes of the Book Store s/t cd). Fire Engine Red were a trio that played fuzzy melodic, heart warming indie rock that was a cross between Buffalo Tom, The Lemonheads and maybe a noisier Blake Babies if John Strohm sang more. Their songs were noticeably long but still very much pop songs. The song "Encouragement" which I later included on The Hope Machine compilation is 6 minutes and 19 seconds long and somehow still one of the catchiest tunes my toes have ever tapped to. The demo consists of three songs and I always wanted more. And sadly I never got any more tunes from this awesome pop trio. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Hadden was a super cool gut who I traded emails and phone calls with for a bit when I was nagging them for a track for the comp and even after the fact.  He hung out with Yes Sensei when we played the Flywheel for our first out of state show. He even sent me copy of his post Fire Engine Red project called Paris, which I reviewed for Under the Volcano. That was solid too. Anyhow, check out the Fire Engine Red demo it is aces.

Fire Engine Red Demo track listing
1. Meaning of the Words
2. Encouragement
3. Coffee Shop Girl

Download Here