Once again, Calvin Johnson and Doug Martsch have united to crank out some of the weirdest, most oddly danceable tunes this side of King Kong. On The Rebels Not In, the third full-length effort from the Halo Benders, the duo does a much better job of vocal harmonizing than on their two prior albums, trading deep wails for off-key whines in their own unique fashion. Vocally, this record belongs largely to Calvin, accompanied largely by the trademark shimmering guitar work of Martsch. Opening with "Virg   [ read more ]

CD $12.99

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Calvin Johnson's baritone harmonizes quite well with Doug Martsch's high-pitched voice on this Steve Fisk-produced album; the songs are a bit more fleshed out than on typical Beat Happening releases. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

CD $14.23

Don't Tell Me Now sees Calvin Johnson's baritone and Doug Martsch's high-pitched whine working with and against each other to catchy effect. Lyrically obtuse, with subject matter praising draft dodgers as heroes and a supremely catchy theme song about themselves, the Halo Benders create a guitar-heavy indie poptopia throughout the album. Martsch might not attack his guitar in as epic a fashion as he does with Built to Spill, but his trademark sound is on display throughout. {$Built to S   [ read more ]

CD $14.23

Calvin Johnson's baritone harmonizes quite well with Doug Martsch's high-pitched voice on this Steve Fisk-produced album; the songs are a bit more fleshed out than on typical Beat Happening releases. ~    [ read more ]

MP3 $10.49

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Heaven sent with a halo bent. Doug Martsch (Built to Spill, Treepeople) joins forces with other underground folks from his past and future: Steve Fisk (Pell Mell, Pigeonhed, Duck Hunt), Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System), Wayne Flower (Treepeople, Violent Green), Ralf Youtz (Feelings, Built to Spill). The Dub Narcotic studios are the meeting place for this feast of empty headed loudmouth doorbell rock done backwards, from basement to bombshelter.

MP3 $10.49

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Statistically speaking, had William Shakespeare a typewriter, a lifespan that stretched to the end of the twentieth century, and a compulsive/random two-fingered-peck typing style, it is quite possible he could have written the entire eleven songs included on the new Halo Benders album, The Rebels Not In. In fact, this week in heaven W.S. and M. Proust are having a no holds bard shoving match to determine who holds the title of literary progenitor of the otherwise completely fresh and original guitar stylin   [ read more ]

MP3 $10.49

Other people also bought:

Young Marble Giants  Colossal Youth (reissue), Timonium  Until He Finds Us, Aye Jay  Indie Rock Connect the Dots