In 1979, TASCAM introduced the Portastudio 144, the first 4-track cassette recorder and the music world was never the same. The relatively inexpensive multi-track home machine was used simply as a demo device by many rumpus room rockers, but other acts, from Bruce Springsteen to Ween, realized they could create inexpensive, intimate albums with these easy-to-use machines.
Thirty years later, Smug Brothers, a home-recording outfit from Dayton, Ohio, is still benefiting from this once emerging technology, now considered by many as an analog throwaway in a clean, digital world. However, it is this warm cassette foundation that gives this group’s pop-rock songs a timeless feel.
Started as a recording project in late 2004, Smug Brothers initially served as an outlet for Kyle Melton (Mascot/Area Code) and Darryl Robbins (The Motel Beds/The Dirty Walk) beyond their now-defunct Dayton outfit, Montgomery Greene. Working alone together over the next year, Melton and Robbins recorded Smug Brothers’ debut, Buzzmounter, which was self-released in Fall 2005.
Reconvening in early 2008, the Smug duo enlisted home-recording veterans Don Thrasher (Guided By Voices/Swearing at Motorists), Marc Betts (Montgomery Greene/Busted Lovers) and Jason Short (Montgomery Greene/Snake Oil), and began working on a more expansive sound. The results are a series of short, catchy songs that cannot be denied. Some call it manna from pure pop heaven for the short-attention-span set, we call it the first new item on every discernable listener’s must-have list.
According to John Wenzel of The Denver Post, Smug Brothers create a “juicy, mid-fi mix of dense power-pop and indie rock. Think a less elfin, more propulsive Tobin Sprout fronting a late ’90s Merge band and you’re close. … this is some catchy-ass stuff.” Although initially constructed as a full-length album, Fortune Rumors was broken out into the Fortune Rumors EP series, a free download initiative released through Fictionband and The Buddha Den in Spring 2009. The digital E.P.s began to quickly generate an internet buzz, resulting in positive reviews in blogs at DaytonDailyNews.com, DenverPost.com and others, and radio play at WOXY.com and non-commercial broadcast outlets such as WYSO-FM (91.3) and WWSU-FM (106.9).
“Every two weeks the band has been giving away a free digital EP consisting of 3 to 4 catchier-than-the-swine-flu pop songs,” wrote Dayton Daily News music blogger Kris Neises. “(These are) fresh-sounding and perfectly crafted lo-fi indie-pop songs that are packed with hooks from beginning to end. It is so good, I feel guilty that I got it for free.” The E.P. series also caught the ear of Squids Eye Records’ head Tony Gilbert. Smug Brothers joined the ranks of the illustrious Dayton label in April 2009. The Interior Magnets single is out now on Squids Eye Records and Fortune Rumors full-length will be out late summer 2009.
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Hi. We're the Smug Brothers. We're so pleased you made it.
Here's what people say about us:
"Today marks the release of the second EP, appropriately titled “Fortune Rumors Vol. 2,” which continues the band’s juicy, mid-fi mix of dense power-pop and indie rock. Think a less elfin, more propulsive Tobin Sprout fronting a late ’90s Merge band and you’re close." -John Wenzel/The Denver Post
"Fortune Rumors Vol. 2 is four fresh-sounding and perfectly crafted lo-fi indie-pop songs that are packed with hooks from beginning to end...The talented Dayton-rock veterans wrote and recorded the songs in Melton’s house over the past year. The home recording gives the songs a very identifiable sound as well as an extra bit of originality and warmth." -Kris Neises/Dayton Daily News
"Another batch of great music was delivered to my inbox today: the latest edition of a Dayton-based “download initiative” Fortune Rumors featuring Smug Brothers, Fictionband and The Buddha Den playing “the distinctive SMUG brand of hook-heavy pop rock for the short-attention-span-set” - i.e., for bloggers such as myself, who mostly paste the press release into a blog like this." -Erin Barnes/The Donnybrook Writing Academy [godonnybrook.com]
We've got a really good lineup together for a Pre-Thanksgiving show in Dayton. It's at Pacchia in the Oregon District. We leave for tour w/ Hawthorne Heights two days later. Hope to see you out!
Wednesday November 25th - 9pm Pacchia 410 E. 5th St. Dayton, OH ALL AGES w/ Bar for those w/ ID The Story Changes Luxury Pushers Stone the Mayor Sherrifs(Last show!) Auburndale
We're playing an album release party this Saturday in Dayton. Let us know if you can make it. We would love to see you!
Saturday August 22nd - 9pm Blind Bob's 430 E. 5th St. Dayton, OH The Story Changes - "ANALOGIES"(new split album with Let Go) Release party The Sound For Language Stone the Mayor Sheriffs 8-Bit Revival
Our PERSONAL band phone number! Call us to leave & receive messages right to your phone! US _ 323.622.8589 // UK _ 020.3051.0068
Also please sign-up for our email list, it's how we let you know when we're coming to your area! You can sign-up here to stay connected: http://signup.shirock.net
Doing our best to keep in touch, SHIROCK Be sure to check out our new WEBSITE: http://www.SHIROCK.net
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