The Minni-Thins

City Beat's Best Local CDs of 2004

Congrats to our favorite electro-pop/media darling T-Shields and our labelmates, Spectacular Fantastic for being among the chosen few.

Bright Eyes - I'm wide awake it's morning

Music has always been a powerful thing to me, but I can only remember a few examples of being truely overcome by what I was hearing. The Beatles self-titled White Album was the first album I owned and listened to over and over and couldn't get enough of. I remember being fifteen and listening to Nirvana's In Utero again and again while painting a stain-glass window for my Gran'ma in her living room. I heard their unplugged album while living in West Virginia, lying in the dark while tears came to my eyes. Last year I saw Spiritualized for the first time and it was so incredible I could barely keep my balance. I cried during "Walking With Jesus."

I heard Bright Eyes' new album the other day. I've always been annoyed by that guy, with his wavering vocals and preciosness, but I give up- he wins. The new album is amzing. I sat with my friend and listened to these quinessential rock n' roll songs about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, and it slayed me. It spoke to me. It's The Beatles, it's Dylan, it's Pavement, it's Neil Young, it's all these things I love... but better.

It's a hard statement to swallow, I know, but I mean it. The first chorus of the opening track has the lyric, "While my mother waters plants, my father loads his gun. He says death will bring us back to God just like the setting sun is returned to the lonesome ocean." It gives me cold chills, man.

The single, "Lua," tells a series of drugged out and drunk vingettes where "supplies are endless in the evening, by the morning they'll be gone." It talks of junkie girls (I think I've known and loved too), and set to a quiet and capoed guitar, with a lone vocal. It's sad, but it's life-affirming in a way. It's the blues. It's a funny story.

Lyrically, the album is as solid as they come. It's as witty and poingant as anything I've ever heard. Musically, it's country tinged folk, with a tight band that's restrained, but not afraid to go all out. It's Conner Oberst's show, though, and he finally sounds comfortable in his place.

I don't know when it comes out officially (my buddy downloaded it), but it's going to be huge. It's going to change lives. It's going to be the pinnacle of the current rock revival. It's a modern classic.

"I'm saying nothing in the past or future ever will feel like it does today. Until we're parking in an alley, just hoping that our shit is safe."

Wow. Really. Wow.

The Minni-Thins In Citybeat

"The Minni-Thins... harness a mature, reciprocated sound of six mastermind musicians who share the spotlight. Not much more than a year ago, Jeremy Strickland (lead vocals, guitar) had a vision, a dream of an Indie Rock band, but with an edge. A drop-dead gorgeous edge."

Read the rest of the "Locals Only" article in this week's Citybeat by Katherine Sontag right here.

Thanks, Fox-Hawk!

Watch out, Jason, it's Dracula!!! - and Some Winter News

Hey, Jason, it's Dracula. He's with the werewolf down in the basement. They got your dinner down there. Your father's there to, he wants to make up with you.

The Northside show was awesome. Thanks to everyone who came out, especially those who danced and sang along. Check out pictures courtesy of Jase Bechtel here.

Be sure to check out Citybeat tommorow. Our "Locals Only" article by Katherine "Fox-Hawk" Sontag comes out this week.

We picked up another Christmas show, this time with Idle Mirth and For Algernon at the Madison Theatre in Covington. It's December 23rd, Christmas Eve Eve, and we all promise to brink you the rock for Christmas.

And look-- Kenny's got a sweet Christmas mohawk!

It's Lovely Crashmas!

This Friday, December 10, 2004, you can catch Lovely Crash, The Fairmount Girls, Abiyah, and, of course, your very own Minni-Thins at the second annual Lovely Crash Christmas bash at Northside Tavern. It's a FREE show and starts at 9:30PM. If you were good this year, you might get presents.

As an early Christmas present from The Minni-Thins, here's an early mix of "Yor Song," from our upcoming album, "In Black Cause I Asked." Enjoy!