The EP is a convenient little tool. Usually a band will put one out when they can only come up with, like, four songs, or are poverty stricken and can't afford to release a full album. Other times, a band will release one in order to tease listeners with a brief glimpse of bigger things to come. The latter is definitely the case concerning new EPs from two sky's-the-limit acts, Heypenny and The Distribution.
Evoking thoughts of the battling coed vocals of Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder Innversions-era keyboard sounds, and a Stax-inflected rhythm section, The Distribution is THE local live band of the moment. While their simply and directly produced debut EP makes the listener imagine how killer the full-length album will eventually be, for now, the disc serves as an irresistible invitation to come party at one of their shows. This is funky, tight, upbeat party music performed by experts.
When Heypenny first started, it wasn't much more than a fun and ridiculously good-sounding studio project by then-Chattanoogan Ben Elkins and a few of his musician friends. After moving to Nashville, Elkins put his energies into developing an equally ridiculously good-sounding live act. At times employing a marching band complete with uniforms, Elkins and co. eventually won a battle of the bands contest in Nashville, which landed them a slot at this year's Bonnaroo festival.
The band's new EP, Cop Car, features demo and finished versions of the title track (Have you seen the video?), which might best be described as a super sharp marriage of They Might Be Giants, (yes) Men at Work, and Elkins effectively assuming the role of a robotic indie rock M.C. (Again, have you seen the video?) The second track, the bouncy sing-along "Oh No," is (we're kinda guessing here) a hilarious treatise on trying not to be a moron. The disc closes with "Emperor's New Clothes," a supremely gorgeous early Bowie-meets-ELO-esque ballad reminiscent of the addictive sounds on the band's 2005 release, "Use These Spoons."
The Distribution will be playing an EP release show (also known as a party) at Rhythm and Brews on Saturday night. Space Capone will be joining them. Heypenny plays at J.J.'s that night with Those Darlins. They'll have copies of their EP (also available on iTunes) available as well.
Stinky on Aug. 21, 2009
The Distribution's cover designer really seems to be channeling Spirtualized's cover designer...
facebook-56707607 on Aug. 21, 2009
These guys TOTALLY rocked Nightfall. I'm very excited about the EP and the forthcoming album.