With a new record due out next week ("Wake Up Captain"), I thought I should recommend Kevin Tihista's work to those out there who don't know it. Tihista was once in TripleFastAction, but his two solo records (2001's "Don't Breathe a Word" and 2002's "Judo") are totally different from TFA. He's got a very delicate, soft vocal style that might compare with Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, or Sufjan Stevens, but with different sorts of lyrical concerns. Example:

"I know this it the time
I've got a conscience that can stop on a dime,
I know there isn't a doubt
Let's get to moving it in and moving it out...

...ooh honey, I'm in distress,
So what's it gonna take for you to lose the dress?" (from "Lose the Dress")

A note, after the fact: I am assuming the misogyny in this song is, of course, ironic. For those who might be offended.

"Don't Breathe a Word" came out on Atlantic's short-lived Division One imprint, so you can probably find cheap used copies, but both it and "Judo" are also available on Parasol's label. The two records were conceived as a double album, but work great separately as well.

To steal a conceit: recommended if you like:

Chamber pop, the Pernice Brothers, The Chamber Strings, probably Nick Drake and Sufjan Stevens, June and the Exit Wounds, Elliot Smith, Eric Matthews, the Webb Brothers.

Anybody else a Tihista fan out thar?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: philosopherEric,

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Anybody else a Tihista fan out thar?

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New Tihista convert checking in..(better late than never, I guess)

Wow.....absolutely killer songwriting, some great sing-along lines.

To steal a conceit: this is what I'd hoped for on the slow sections of "Welcome Interstate Managers".

Which one(s) did you get, flem?

I've seen advance dates for a demos collection due out on Parasol in late March.

I think Kevin's got the slowed-down orch pop thing down to a science right now. I tend to think "Interstate Managers" is a damn near perfect album, but I like it best when it's uptempo and power-poppy, not slow and mellow.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Which one(s) did you get, flem?

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I'd ordered "Wake Up Captain" from NotLame, but they sent me "Judo" by mistake.

No matter, I'll probably end up getting the entire catalogue anyhow.

I may have to check this special Parasol pressing out, too...

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Title:Home Demons - Limited Edition Schuba's Residency CDR
Artist: Kevin Tihista's Red Terror
Label: ParasolSpecialProjects
PS, US Kevin Tihista just finished his January residency at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago. For this special weekly engagement we pressed up a limited run of 100 commemorative CDRs, advances on his upcoming Home Demons CD which will be officially released by Parasol this coming Spring. We have a few left, which we can offer to you. This CDR actually contains more music than the official CD will, a total of 21 songs plus a hidden track. Limited edition, hand-assembled and hand-numbered CDR has a printed face (Kevin enjoying a beverage with a pal) and is housed in a stickered white cardboard sleeve.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I tend to think "Interstate Managers" is a damn near perfect album.

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I've still got an ambivalent attitude about that one, because I what I really wanted was "Utopia Parkway 2".

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Originally posted by flem_snopes:

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Which one(s) did you get, flem?

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I'd ordered "Wake Up Captain" from NotLame, but they sent me "Judo" by mistake.

No matter, I'll probably end up getting the entire catalogue anyhow.

I may have to check http://www.parasol.com/catalog/catalog.asp?zoomtitle=71539&thepage=/catalog/catalog.asp out, too...

quote:

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Title:Home Demons - Limited Edition Schuba's Residency CDR
Artist: Kevin Tihista's Red Terror
Label: ParasolSpecialProjects
PS, US Kevin Tihista just finished his January residency at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago. For this special weekly engagement we pressed up a limited run of 100 commemorative CDRs, advances on his upcoming Home Demons CD which will be officially released by Parasol this coming Spring. We have a few left, which we can offer to you. This CDR actually contains more music than the official CD will, a total of 21 songs plus a hidden track. Limited edition, hand-assembled and hand-numbered CDR has a printed face (Kevin enjoying a beverage with a pal) and is housed in a stickered white cardboard sleeve.

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I just ordered the Home Demons. That was the release I had heard about...although the "official" version isn't out 'til spring.
"Judo" and "Don't Breathe A Word" are both great. "Wake Up" is more of the same...excellent. I think I like "Don't Breathe" the best, but it's too close to call.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I think I like "Don't Breathe" the best, but it's too close to call.

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I guess I'll find out soon enough; just placed an order for the other three Tihista titles at Parasol's site.

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Originally posted by flem_snopes:

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I think I like "Don't Breathe" the best, but it's too close to call.

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I guess I'll find out soon enough; just placed an order for the other three Tihista titles at Parasol's site.

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Along with the 3 full lengths and the special demos disc, there's an EP on Rough Trade from 2000 that has a few alternate mixes and songs that ended up on the first two records. I've found it in cheapy bins at various points...keep an eye out.

The limited version of the demos is worth having, flem. I got mine today.

It's a CD-R, but it comes in a numbered cardboard sleeve detailing the Schuba's residency. It's 22 tracks and not all of them will be on the legit version.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
The limited version of the demos is worth having, flem. I got mine today.

It's a CD-R, but it comes in a numbered cardboard sleeve detailing the Schuba's residency. It's 22 tracks and not all of them will be on the legit version.

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Mine came today, too. Haven't had a chance to give it a listen yet.

I got #75 / 100.


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I got #70.

My friends in Atlanta probably got 71 and 72. They ordered shortly after me.

Oops...old age, bad eyesight.

I got disc #73, not #75.

Anyhow, I was able to catch a listen on the drive into work this morning.

Track #5 is the early favorite.

Could have done without the cover version of Dave Mason's "We Just Disagree", though. (bad, bad, awful tacky 1977 high school prom flashbacks)

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I'm bringing this one back to the top for the benefit of Peewee, whose got a power pop jones that will make him fit in quite well around here.

I think the "official" release of the Home Demons demos record is scheduled for May.

Home Demons Vol 1 (the REAL version) is now available from Parasol for those (flem, Peewee) who might care. Got mine today.