The Layaways
Label: Mystery FarmGenre: Rock
My last few posts have featured up-jump-and-boogie tracks and it's high time I settle down a bit before I hurt myself. The Chicago trio, The Layaways, a perennial favorite 'round these parts, return after dropping their festive Christmas EP more than two years ago. Their laid-back, '60s era sounds are absolutely delightening. Yes, they're so good that they induce spontaneous neology. On "Keep it to Yourself" they flavor their guitars with just a pinch of fuzz, a dash of reverb, and a sprinkle of backwardness. They turn up the jangle on "All Around the World" and their tag-team vocalists provide a subtle depth to this new full-length, available, by the way, in its entirety on their site in full share mode. Good peeps them Layaways boys. I hope they don't mind me adding my favorite track, "Come Back Home." It evokes a hot, languid California Summer circa 1967. Dig it.
One last note, The Layaways' guitarist, David Harnell, writes the blog Digital Audio Insider, a must read for any DIY band navigating their way through the digital music world.
Keep it to Yourself [MP3, 4.5MB, 192kbps]
All Around the World [MP3, 4.7MB, 192kbps]
Come Back Home [MP3, 6.3MB, 192kbps]
Previous post, 12/24/2006:
Any holiday worth its salt supports the spirit of sharing. So here's sharing songs about sharing from the ever generous band The Layaways. All their previous links still work as well, so if you haven't dug these out of the archive yet consider your stockings stuffed. From our families to yours we hope your holidays (be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus) are safe and warm and filled with delicious treats.
O Christmas Tree [MP3, 4.7MB, 192kbps]
Joy to the World [MP3, 1.4MB, 192kbps]
Silent Night [MP3, 6.1MB, 192kbps]
Original post, 05/15/2005:
Apologies to Jennifer Z. (no relation) for procrastinating her suggestion until now. Why do today what can wait until tomorrow is the motto I too often live by. Better late than never. Jennifer notes, "They kind of have a Jesus and Mary Chain meets Guided By Voices thing going. Very catchy stuff!" I'll date myself and add to that that it reminds me of Rain Parade — a band I distinctly remember jamming out to while doing inventory all night at Music Plus. I got pulled over on the way home, and upon seeing my bloodshot eyes, the police officer asked me to step out of the car and asked me what I had been smoking. I finally convinced him that I was sober, and any high that I might have experienced that night was due to a lack of sleep and the chilled, psychedelic rock of Rain Parade. The Layaways sound as if they've been taking hits off the same pipe.
Silence [MP3, 4.1MB, 192kbps]
The Long Night [MP3, 6.9MB, 192kbps]
Ocean Blue [MP3, 3.5MB, 192kbps]
Let Me In [MP3, 2.7MB, 192kbps]
Is This All [MP3, 4.2MB, 192kbps]
www.mysteryfarm.com
www.thelayaways.com
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