November 1999 Parasol Newsletter

Issue #25

We're working on another catalog! In the era of Internet everything it might seem silly to print an 80-page collection listing the best independent music titles. Especially since anyone can view that catalog on-line at www.parasol.com. Nevertheless, we at Parasol still like to hold catalogs in our individual hands, and we figure that you do too. The website shopping cart has had so many false internal launches that I'm anxious about suggesting that it might actually be up and running prior to the December newsletter. I'm fairly confident, however, that it will beat Adam Schmitt's new release to the public domain. The album is on hold while he works through his Producer schedule. Sorry.

SPOTLIGHT!

Doleful Lions-The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! CD
(PAR-CD-051) $10.00

Doleful Lions leader Jonathan Scott says it all started as a joke. Whether you buy that or not is part of the charm and mystery of Doleful Lions, who've gone from the oh-so-twee 80s-fixated techno-pop of Jon's first demos, to twin-guitar southern-harmony rock a la Let's Active, the dBs and (duh) R.E.M. as evident on their Parasol debut Motel Swim… and now to an entirely different lineup and a decidedly heavier (like, heavy thinking, not heavy like Blue Cheer or anything) streak on album number two, The Rats are Coming! The Werewolves are Here! Oh, sure, there were hints of it on Motel Swim - the spooky death-waltz of "Respirator" and the Bob Pollard-in-a-bad-mood majesty of "Advanced Japanese Candlestick Man" suggested there was more inside Jon's brain than smiles, vibes and harmony. But never like this. Check this subject matter: serial killers, UFOs, the legendary Aztec pilots, famous monsters of filmland, Greek mythology, the feudal system… and, of course, falling in love at the end of the world. Don't freak! There's still plenty of the Doleful Lions pop formula you know (if you know it) and love (if you love it) - pogo-pop anthems ("I Miss the Kings"), bouncy AM sounds that Ray Davies would've killed for ("Ocean Stars"), a song that could be both by and about Alex Chilton ("The Contrarian") and, um, oh-so-twee 80s-fixated techno-pop ("Airline Histories"). There's just a broader palette of sounds, that's all, thanks to the band's self-production along with the meticulous ear of engineer (and now an official Doleful Lion himself) Kurt Mueller - textures that are by turns disturbing, distracting and disorienting on some songs, while others get the Abbey Road-on-a-shoestring orch-pop treatment, so that by the time the album's closer, "Hoshizaki Cubestar Soldier," oscillates into noisy oblivion, you may well have heard it all. The studio tans are beginning to fade, Jon's written something like 40 new songs, a film for "Ocean Stars" begins shooting soon, and a musical stage production (we hesitate to use words like "rock opera", but…) incorporating songs from Motel Swim and Rats are Coming… is underway (really!).

Feaze-Morning Wood CD
(Mud-CD-039) $10.00

"I wish I was in this band when I was 14," says Poster Child Rose Marshack about Feaze. If the PMRC had its way the three 15-year old members would not be able to walk into a record store without adult chaperons to buy a copy of their own debut release Morning Wood. Something to do with the song lyrics on "Once So Sweet and Innocent." Formed in 1997 when the members had just entered their teens, Feaze has assembled a debut that sounds like what Sarge might have recorded had they released two albums prior to Charcoal. The lyrics are not as informed by experience as Sarge's Elizabeth Elmore, yet there is something striking about the couplet from "Oh Lordy It's Raining Alcohol"

It's Raining, It's Pouring
The Old Man's, Still Drinking

as it's delivered by a young teen. There seems to be no comfortable transition between the nursery rhymes of youth, and observations on dysfunctional family life. This may have been what attracted the Poster Kids' Rick Valentin to offer to produce Feaze. Recorded in just two days, and mixed in two more, Morning Wood amply displays influences of the producer and local scene. So enamored with the end result, Rick and Poster Children band mate Rose Marshack took the production responsibilities a step further by approaching Parasol about including Morning Wood on the Mud Records roster. Parasol owner Geoff Merritt heard the finished songs and pledged to release the album. Granted, Morning Wood is not a fully realized collection of songs from a veteran recording and touring outfit. However, it is the first step in the development of a young band. Raw, vulnerable, silly, sweet. All the things you expect from a trio of 15-year-old girls.

June & the Exit Wounds-"a little more Haven Hamilton, please" LP + 7"
(Par-LP-026) $10.00

The biggest selling release in Parasol Records history is now available on vinyl LP with a BONUS 7" that contains two unreleased tracks. Collectors be aware: Marina Records is releasing this CD in Europe and they are including one of the two tracks from our 7" single. Philter Records in Japan is issuing "Haven Hamilton" in Southeast Asia with the addition of two yet released (and to my knowledge undetermined) bonus tracks. But don't delay, buy this LP today.

Erik Voeks-"Christmas Singles" b/w "The Cruel Tide" 7"
(Par-028) $3.00

Parasol released this Erik Voeks Christmas single in 1997. We still haven't heard anything new from Erik, but if you missed this release the first time around, get into holiday song mode. This is the saddest Christmas song you've ever heard, a Christmas song about Christmas songs, that raises major goosebumpage around here. He's known for his "better-than-brilliant" Midwestern pop genius, and his world-weary croon akin to the earliest Elvis Costello. Erik's joined on this recording by members of Turning Curious, B-Lovers, and Twiggy. A must for fans of Adam Schmitt, Tommy Keene and…ERIK VOEKS!

COMING SOON

June & the Exit Wounds-"a little more Haven Hamilton, please" LP w/ bonus 7" of 2 new songs! Due in October

Feaze-Morning Wood CD due in October

Doleful Lions-The Rats Are Coming!… CD due in October

Starlet-"Diary & Herself" b/w exclusive B-side 7" single due in October

Starlet-Stay On My Side CD due in November Bikeride-Dogs EP 10" with 7 unreleased songs due in November

Busytoby-It's Good To Be Alive CD due in November

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

…Parasol's favorite non-nudie "men's magazine," GEAR, offered reviews in the September issue of two Parasol releases. Comparing the Signalmen debut to Smithereens and the Posies GEAR writes, "Languid guitar that washes in like a surf, a singer who sounds like he has bouts of narcolepsy and an elevator-muzak vibe add up to an album whose sum is greater than its parts. …Signalmen comes off as odd, unique and intelligent." And, under the "Best Easy Listening" designation GEAR's Renee Kaplan describes June & the Exit Wounds as "…mellow California crooners, latter-day Beach Boys jamming at the Tiki-ti with occasional falsetto harmonizing and some piano-man sentiment. It's easy listening, old school lounge music. 'Let's shack up together baby/Make all the neighbors talk,' and 'Cathy I really love you/I want to touch you' they say with earnest, Beatles-style candor…this debut album keeps you groovy and amused." Other articles this issue: Tantric Sex, Diary of a Nymphomaniac, Surfing's Fatboy, Secrets of Voyeur Dorm…

SOME PARASOL RELATED ARTIST ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS

June and the Exit Wounds' Todd Fletcher

1. Mixing session you wish you could have attended-"One where I didn't screw the song up."

2. Songs you think you probably shouldn't like but just can't help yourself-"Songs with just a few simple piano chords and without the fun and sun ."

3. Favorite record that you can't find on CD- "The Charlie Dold catalog."

4. First Concert- "Farm Aid."

5. Favorite Bass Player-"Alejandro Palao, who thanks to me will now get the widespread recognition he deserves."

Those of you not frightened off by the misleading band name have discovered a soft pop gem in "a little more Haven Hamilton, please." Parasol will be releasing a vinyl LP version in October that will contain a 7" single with two non-LP tracks, and we have recently licensed this CD to Marina Records in Germany. We're a big fan of Marina Records and are excited that they will be telling their European brethren about "Haven Hamilton." The German CD version, available in early 2000, will contain the two bonus songs from the LP's 7". Confused? Here's more…the Japanese magazine Bloody Dolphins will have one of the bonus two songs on a CD that is coming with their next issue. Finally, Todd Fletcher is about to begin recording his follow up album. We can't wait.

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