I Like Bands That Live Up To Their Names

Well, as Ross and I find ourselves in the greatest slump in our concert schedule since last month, there is nothing left but for me to find some fairly obscure bands and show them to you so that you can investigate each one. Like some sort of dog show, but for bands. You check their coat, look under their ears, see them walk their walk, etc. Anyway, I have a bonafide purebred for all you who read this blog (all almost twenty of you).

The Spectacular Fantastic is one of those bands who, once you hear them, you're stunned that you haven't heard of them before. In fact, after listening to their album a few times, it seems as though you have been tuning in to them for months, nay, years. Their songs just have that quality about them that makes it feel like they've been your best friend for ages. The newest material from them, entitled "The Spectacular Fantastic Goes Underground", is actually streamed on their website. That's right, you can listen to all 14 tracks, free of charge. They also have their older I Love You EP free for download on their website. Got enough free stuff? Of course not. Well, you're in luck. Mike Detmer, the brains behind the Spectacular Fantastic, also has a solo album, Four Track Heart, One Track Mind, available on the website (shhh... it's a secret). He wrote and recorded it in an apparent two week time period in 2003 after he was, for one reason or another, seperated from his love. The work itself, if considered in context, is a masterpiece. A fair amount of the tracks are obviously rough, but that's to be expected when you finish all the aspects of an album in a mere two weeks.

Anyway, to get back to the point, the Spectacular Fantastic have brought a new brand of laid back folky pop to the world, and for that, we should all thank them... and throw money at them. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though they get to the Tristate area all that much. As for now they're working on converting the Ohio/Kentucky crowd. Rest assured, however, that once they decide to grace the Big Apple, I'll be there. Most likely, so will Ross.


The Spectacular Fantastic
I Love You EP
Four Track Heart, One Track Mind

By the way, there may be a bit of a slackening in the posting in the next few days, from me at least. School's a bitch, ain't it? Hopefully I'll be able to muscle on through it and get to all of you adoring people out there.

Oh... and who thinks we should make "Sounds of Thunder" stickers? Leave a comment on your opinion.