Magic Bullets gear up for their latest and final release in the form of Much Ado About, to be released on April 3, 2012. This seven track EP comprises perhaps their best work yet. The San Francisco quintet featuring Philip Benson (vocals), Corey Cunningham (guitar), Nathan Sweatt (bass), Sean McDonnell (keyboards), and Alex Kaiser (drums) dissolved last fall, playing their last show on August 24 at The Rickshaw Stop. The three original members (Phil, Corey, and Nathan) had been playing together for 7 years as Magic Bullets before calling it quits as said incarnation.
But before they say their ‘so-long’s and ‘farewell’s, they’re leaving us with one more incredible EP recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Monte Vallier (Half Church/Swell). The collection starts and ends with the sound of a cassette being placed in and taken out of a stereo, lending a nostalgic air of hearing an old mix tape from a good friend. The album spans a breadth of emotion and style, displaying the eclectic influences that characterized their last record. From the Luther Vandross and Chic leanings of “Common House Cats” to the William Ackerman inspired “No Longer There”, Much Ado About will delight fans who have already come to love the band’s broad approach to jangle-pop. Audiences who attended their set at SXSW last year and CMJ the year prior will likely recognize some tracks which were live favorites and were recorded in San Francisco in January and June of 2011.
Though the band thinks it was fun while it lasted, and maintain they may get back together some day…for now, we at least have a fucking great collection of tracks to remember them by.
It was a bit of a slow year for Mon Amie Records (I released one 10″, wooo!) , but 2012 is shaping up to be a great year including a new Magic Bullets EP, a Wooden Indian Burial Ground full length, and an exciting reissue. Til then, here’s a playlist of some of my favorites from 2011.
The Bay Bridged recently wrote that August 24th “mark[ed] the final show ever by SF indie pop heroes, Magic Bullets.” While that may not be true as Magic Bullets have preferred to call their current hiatus a ‘break’ rather than a ‘break up,’ one thing is for sure: Magic Bullets won’t be writing, recording, or playing live for a while. That’s a fact that depresses the hell out of me.
Magic Bullets were not only the first signing on my tiny label, but they were my favorite SF band for years. I remember seeing them open up for Voxtrot at Great American Music Hall when I first moved back to the bay and thinking they blew the Austin band out of the water. I followed their career as Magic Bullets from the very first release, and may be putting out their posthumous EP later this year (fingers crossed it doesn’t end up being posthumous). It’s as a fan that I’m gutted. They make amazing music as the Bullets, and I’ll miss their specific ways of song craftsmanship.
While we may not see any more of the Magic Bullets beyond Much Ado (the name of the EP mentioned above), in the meantime, they have a fantastic new project called Terry Malts whose next 7″ and LP releases will be on Slumberland Records.
Just received the Wooden Indian Burial Ground “Holy Mountain/Sunbeams and the Cosmic Ascent to Nowheresville” 10″s, and they’re GORGEOUS. It’s all in the details, and the handmade wood prints and inserts are awesome. For those of you in Portland, don’t miss your chance to buy your 10″ directly from the band at this awesome free party. They’ll be in stores and online August 16th.
We’re more than elated to announce the third release on Mon Amie Records!! Wooden Indian Burial Ground hail from Portland, OR and are currently finishing up a full length to be released later this year. In the meantime we’re priveleged to be bringing you this 10″ single featuring “Holy Mountain/Sunbeams and the Cosmic Ascent to Nowheresville” b/w “Another Nail, Boys!”
The Holy Mountain 45 rpm 10″ will feature two tracks lovingly pressed and enclosed in handprinted diecut sleeves. Look for it in stores on August 16, 2011! For a sneak peak of the garage-trash-folk-psychedelia to come, check out this video Justin D Fowler of WIBG Frankensteined together:
A NOTE FROM WIBG:
you’ve got shit on your boots and dandelions in yer hair…and you’ve
never looked better. it’s the cosmic ascent to nowheresville,
man…and summer’s on it’s way. feet stomp and hands clap to the
jingle jangle clack clack clack of a junk store piano. backyard
percussion stage left. theremin and fuzz guitar right over yonder.
marching bass in the rafters. reverb strikes from below. tape machines
and digital dreams. get lonesome. get happy. or just get. dirge.
ballad. instrumental. pop song in the the key of c. open up the flood
gates…
For those of you who are jonesing for some new Magic Bullets material, hold tight…the boys have just finished a FANTASTIC new EP whose details we’ll be announcing shortly. In the meantime, check out this awesome side project from the boys in the Bullets. It’s called Terry Malts, and they’ve just released a 7″ on Slumberland Records. Listen to the b side here, then buy the record!
Finally, Magic Bullets self titled release from last year will be getting proper distribution in the UK and Europe starting April 11, 2011. Some people have said really nice things across the pond which has made our day. The Guardian UK posted “Sigh The Day Away” as a free mp3 and The Line of Best Fit called the album “An endearing, catchy and really well put together record – a perfect, playful soundtrack for the imminent summertime.” See the full review here. Thanks for the kind words!
We’re finally recovered from our week in Austin and trying to return to normal life. There’s still time for a little bit of reminiscing and celebrating as Magic Bullets played AWESOME sets at SXSW. Bob Boilen from NPR’s All Songs Considered caught their show at Emo’s Jr and named them one of their favorite finds of the festival!! See what else he had to say:
“Magic Bullets is fronted by a very tall, rubbery singer named Philip Benson. His spirit is infectious, and the band was a delight, reminiscent of what Talking Heads were doing before 1978. Here they’re doing a cover of an early ’80s Altered Images tune called “I Could Be Happy.”
