February 2000 Parasol Newsletter

Issue #28

SPOTLIGHT

Starlet-Stay On My Side CD
(Parasol-CD-054) $10.00
In the early running for Album of the Year, 2000. Like the Oscars there will be some November release that will step in and take all the glory from the rightful recipient, but in our hearts we'll know the REAL WINNER; in this case, Starlet. Stay On My Side contains 10 songs, the perfect length for a perfect pop album. We had high expectations, but they were surpassed by a distance that is equal to the space between the Midwestern United States (Parasol's home) and Sweden (Starlet's home). Recognized as part of the "Åhus Scene" that was designated by the Swedish pop press as "the Mecca of Swedish wimp pop," Starlet comes from the same region as Club 8, Acid House Kings, Pop Race, and the Leslies. Pretty solid company. And, lead vocalist Jonas Farm's hometown, Malmoe, has been chosen as the "pop-town of year 2000" by the nation's Swedish Radio. Parasol first became aware of Starlet when a demo cassette arrived in our offices during the spring of 1997. After hearing 1½ songs we grabbed the cassette case and called the inscribed phone number. DISCONNECTED. A few agonizing weeks passed before our letter (is the prevalence of e-mail that new?) was answered. Ahh…a deal was struck and in the summer of 1997 we released Starlet's debut From the One You Left Behind. This strummy, musically upbeat, indie-pop confection garnered grass roots college radio airplay, and a solid word-of-mouth base of fans. A few months following the CD's release Parasol pressed up vinyl LP copies, which were sold out soon thereafter. Stay On My Side is a slight step away from the self-acknowledged naivete that set the pace for their previous album. Yet, when the naivete slips through, as on the wide-eyed "Silver Sportscar," the charm is arresting. How can anyone resist the image of a 20-something Scandinavian, California dreamin' about driver's licenses and the open road? Other highlights include the A-side to the recently released single "Diary & Herself," and the album's opening track "I'm Home." The perception on first listen is that Stay On My Side is more musically sparse than it's predecessor. Acoustic guitar arrangements are for the most part gentle, yet there's a quiet power here that is backed up by the sad melodies and lyrical longings. In the end I'm going to take the easy way out and say that Stay On My Side will remind you of Belle & Sebastian. But there's so much more. Start your Top 10 list now.

Bikeride-Dogs EP
(Hidden Agenda-012) $8.50
Bikeride is one of those projects that as a label you're (we're) consistently delighted to be involved with. The music is varied, yet focused; intricately-arranged, yet not overly-produced; and leader Tony Carbone has a wealth of material looking for a circular home. Dogs EP follows a self-released CD Here Comes the Summer (which Parasol Distribution will be re-pressing for Bikeride this fall), the "America's Favorite Omelettes" 7" EP, and the 37 Secrets I Only Told America full-length CD/LP. "Jennifer" appears on 37 Secrets, is the leadoff track on Dogs, and is the only previously released track that appears here. Also included: "You Stepped On My Guitar," a rock-n-roller, distortion pedals and all; the slinky "Shawna" about That Girl in the hot pink bikini from the "America's Favorite Omelettes" EP jacket; and the aptly named "Carl Wilson Suite" (Carl was a member of The Beach Boys you'll remember). Snazzy art features more previously unpublished photos of Tony's grandfather, shirtless and soaking wet!

Salaryman-Karoshi
(12 Inch-012) $11.00
The latest CD from these mysterious Midwestern (woman and) man machines is a monster slab of funkified, rhythm-driven, synth-propelled, instrumental techno-ambient-rock, slinkier than their awesome debut. Karoshi (Japanese for "death from overwork") appears on the band's own 12 Inch record label and can be compared to an amalgam of Kraftwerk, Orbital, early Tangerine Dream and Tortoise. Recommended by Q, CMJ, Mojo…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

…Sarge has split. Revolving around the only current founding member, guitarist/songwriter/lead vocalist Elizabeth Elmore, Sarge had numerous line-up changes in its four years of existence. The band released a 7" on Mud/Parasol in 1996 and quickly caught the attention of the indie-rock community. Sarge's full-length debut, Charcoal, was released in late 1996, and the critically acclaimed follow up, The Glass Intact, was issued in March 1998. Rolling Stone named Sarge the "Hot Band" in the 1998 Hot Issue, and SPIN listed Sarge in the magazine's "98 (artists) for '98." Sarge recorded demos for a third album in early 1999 before Elmore started her first semester at Northwestern Law School in Chicago. Following Elmore's semester finals, she and longtime drummer, Chad Romanski, decided to break up the band. Elmore, who has been playing high profile solo shows in and around Chicago, is busy compiling a CD of unreleased studio recordings, alternate takes and live material. The album, titled Distant, will also include the band's cover of "Time After Time," which has only appeared as the B-side to the "Stall" single. To our knowledge, all band members will continue on with yet undetermined musical endeavors. We miss you already!

COMING SOON

• Matt Bruno-Punch and Beauty CD due in March
• White Town-Peek & Poke CD due in March
• Great Crusades-Damaged Goods CD due in March
• Sarge-Distant CD due in March
• National Skyline-National Sklyline CD due in April
• George Usher-Days of Plenty CD due in April
• Elk City-Status CD due in April
• St. Christopher-Golden Blue CD due in May
• Vitesse-TBA CD due in 2000

SOME PARASOL RELATED ARTIST ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS

Starlet's Joakim Odlund & Jonas Farm

1. Mixing session you wish you could have attended-
Joakim: "Since my favourite record is The Queen is Dead, I would have been there. Especially when Morrissey sang, "I know it's over." Johnny Marr, referring to this particular moment some years ago, said that this was the moment of his lifetime. I'm sure I would had felt the same." Jonas: "Well, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless would have been something to attend, or their lovely You Made Me Realize EP. And, of course, the mixing and making of the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band."

2. Songs you think you probably shouldn't like but just can't help yourself-
Joakim: "I'm 25 years old now and I have accepted my taste in music, so nowadays I happy to dance to "The River" or "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen. Jonas: "Luckily I've come to reason that there is no song I 'shouldn't like.' But an answer to the question would be Bryan Adams "Heaven", which I find beautiful and sensitive. I know that many people automatically reject certain artists because the artists are not "this" enough or "that" enough. Silly. A good song is a good song, and it's all individuality in the end."

3. Favorite record that you can't find on CD-
Joakim: "There is a Swedish group called Looptroop which is more independent than early Belle & Sebastian and which is nearly as hard as to get hold of as the first pressing of Tigermilk. White label only." Jonas: "I've been looking for years for London Weekend by Another Sunny Day. It seems impossible (to find) and that's very annoying."

4. First Concert-
Joakim: "Ulf Lundell Idrottshallen at Kristianstad 1988. Ulf is a legendary Swedish singer/songwriter. Sounds like Springsteen and looks like Springsteen but with Dylan's attitude. That is Ulf!!!!!" Jonas: "It must have been a Swedish folk park orchestra of some kind when I was very young. They play like the 60´s bands but in a very dodgy way, and the lyrics are all about love and loss, just like Starlet."

5. Favorite Bass Player-
Joakim: "James Jamerson." Jonas: "Peter Hook."

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