Open CDep
- Disconnection Day
- Storytime (In the Street of Spies)
- Chivaree
- Fear Is a Man's Best Friend
- To Mt. Wilson From the Magpie Cage
- Win Instantly
Channels
release date: november 2004
J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines), Darren Zentek (Kerosene 454, Oswego), and Janet Morgan (Shonben) fall gleefully into the rock supercollider and emerge victorious with power−trio chops, sing−along choruses, and intricate rhythmic turns. It’s hard to believe this is actually their debut.
Opener "Disconnection Day" posits 9/11 as a not−too distant future holiday wherein we all learn to celebrate our submission to the official truths, with a hook laden vocal that makes its own key. "Chivaree" is a punk rock love song to all lovers and dreamers; even though it begins with the word "kill". The band’s take on John Cale’s 70’s cult classic "Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend" builds from an acoustic whisper to a shout along power finale, with Morgan’s lullaby soprano softening you up for the beatdown. "To Mt. Wilson..." celebrates well intentioned madness with a whirlwind drum pattern that identifies the beat by omission. And Morgan gets the last word in the hypnotic "Win instantly" her singsong vocals carried away on wawes of chimey, tremolo bar Marshall guitar.
'Open' is an exuberant, melodic, weirdly rhythmic racket that escapes easy categorisation and urges listeners to stay exactly that; Open. Recorded by: J. Robbins, mostly at Phase, College Park, MD in late 2003. Additional recording, obsessing, and mixing done upstairs at home in early 2004. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.