In what has become basically a running gag with longtime YANP readers, I’d like to once again plug one of my favorite bands – Bishop Allen. I do this from time to time in case any of you who just joined us missed out on them.
So why all this fuss over Bishop Allen? Well imagine a songwriting duo raised on the brainy lyrics of The Talking Heads and the stripped-down guitar work of the Violent Femmes. That’s basically the formula to make vocalist Justin Rice and guitarist Christian Rudder. Bishop Allen’s first album, Charm School, was completed in the duo’s apartment on some sub-par equipment. Surprisingly, it turned out to be nothing short of incredible. Since doing a little member swapping and finally settling on Christian Owens on bass and Jack Delamitraux on drums, Bishop Allen is prepared to release their new album – Clementines. (note: by “is prepared” I mean that it will eventually see the light of day)
MP3s:
Things Are What You Make of Them
Busted Heart
Little Black Ache
Eve of Destruction
Bishop Allen on WMCU (includes non-album songs)
01 Penitentiary Bound
02 Things Are What You Make Of Them
03 Making Friends
04 Another Wasted Night
05 One By One
Super Bonus MP3: Bishop Allen – You Aint No Picasso
Name sound familiar? Well it should. When I was thinking of starting a blog, I knew that the first thing I should do is completely rip off a band that I love. So I found out that Bishop Allen’s unreleased demo song, You Aint No Picasso, sounded perfect, yet was so little known that I could get away with it. But if you haven’t listened to Bishop Allen before, don’t download this song. You might not like it (it’s very rough) and then never look into them again. This is only for folks who are already cemented in their love or indifference of Bishop Allen and either wanted more songs or wanted to know why on earth I picked “You Aint No Picasso.”
NOTE: If you guys are Bishop Allen fans and can’t wait for the new album, I have live versions of about half of the album that are good for the posting. Some or kinda lame quality, but they give you a good feeling of what the song will wind up sounding like.
13 responses so far
1 john // Aug 9, 2005 at 2:28 am
fantastic band indeed.. it’s a shame that they cancelled in carborro, was hoping to hear some new tunes.
2 Penguin // Aug 9, 2005 at 2:33 am
Gosh, I know how that feels – load of poop they cancelled here in Austin too. What’s worse is that I’ve yet to get the Charm School cd; I was hoping to pick it up at the concert that never WAS….
3 Tim // Aug 9, 2005 at 12:43 pm
BA sure is great. I was PD of my college station WGMU when Charm School was released and we had them in studio on their way back to Brooklyn. It’s a pretty high quality recording with an interview. They did pretty much every song off of CS. I could send you a CD if you want or e-mail. They had a couple from the session on their website for a while after the interview. I probably sound like an idiot on the interview though. I haven’t listened to it since I was actually doing the interview.
4 AdrianRyan // Aug 9, 2005 at 2:08 pm
As huge Bishop Allen fans, my girlfriend and I both REALLY want that live stuff off Clementies posted. That would rock. Thank you much.
Adrian and Nikki
5 Matt // Aug 9, 2005 at 5:18 pm
Dear Tim,
I would love to hear those songs. If you want, I could send you blanks and postage for it, or you can send it to my email at thatkid42@gmail.com
Dear Adrian and Nikki,
I’ll try to have them up in the next week. Good to know I’m not alone in being excited about the new album!
6 Amy // Aug 9, 2005 at 7:08 pm
I always wondered what your blog name referred to. You’ve done an amazing job of getting the word out on a good band. I hope they recognize you for it . . .
7 Satisfied '75 // Aug 9, 2005 at 7:39 pm
i always wondered about yer blogs title
8 script // Aug 9, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Hey, I like Bishop Allen and all but I’ve been listening to that busted heart song and its good except for its a blatant modest mouse rip off. Seriously, the opening verse sounds exactly like something off of the moon and antarctica, the rest has many similarities as well. otherwise, great stuff.
9 Ryan // Aug 10, 2005 at 2:29 am
Wow, I’ve been missing out.
Almost as good as my favorite, Modest Mouse. :-D
10 janellio // Aug 10, 2005 at 2:37 am
I saw them open for mates of state. Then I heard Things are what You make then on “saved.” Then my friend bought the cd used for 4 dollars. Then I found this website. It’s like the universe is telling me to like Bishop Allen.
11 nikki // Aug 10, 2005 at 3:02 am
Dear Matt,
That would be amazing if they were up by next week. :) Bishop Allen is awesome! You are definitely not alone in eagerly awaiting Clementines.
Nikki
12 TheBlooog // Aug 10, 2005 at 2:23 pm
I’m glad someone else pointed out their blatant “quoting” of Modest Mouse, from instrumentation to vocal style to production.
And this is not like “Grandaddy sounds like Pavement”. These guys really fucking sound like Modest Mouse.
13 Anonymous // Dec 15, 2005 at 8:35 pm
I still miss the girls on your first album. Any chance you could grovel and get them back?
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