The Halo Benders

Music

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Planned Obsolescence

Album: Don't Tell Me Now

Released: Jan 1, 1996

Label: K Records

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Planned Obsolescence
4:41
8,505 plays
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Your Asterisk
2:50
9,001 plays
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Bury Me
3:22
13,682 plays
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Don't Touch My Bikini
3:39
38,195 plays
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Blank Equation
3:18
11,116 plays

Total Plays: 131,386 / Plays Today: 7See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Experimental / Indie / Other
Location US
Profile Views: 97251
Last Login: 9/17/2011
Member Since 11/28/2005
Website halobenders.com
Record Label K Records
Type of Label Indie
Bio
By Jeanne Acceturo--They call it basement punk: a freewheeling combination of good ideas, great musicians, and a sense of humor. In 1993, K Records/Beat Happening/Dub Narcotic Sound System/Man About Olympia Calvin Johnson and Built To Spill guitarist/wordsmith Doug Martsch gathered up some pals (including Pell Mell member and producer extraordinaire Steve Fisk, Treepeople/Violent Green drummer Wayne Flower, and former Built To Spill/Sone/The Feelings star Ralph Youtz), went into Johnson's basement, and recorded God Don't Make No Junk (K, released in 1994). The record is instantly engaging, whimsical, and brimming with talent. Over the next four years, they recorded two more albums: 1996's more subtle Don't Tell Me Now and 1998's lush The Rebel's Not In (both on K). If indie rockers had their own dance club, the Halo Benders would be the house band, and "Don't Touch My Bikini," (from God Don't Make No Junk) would be the most-requested song. With its simple, catchy guitar hook and silly springing sound effects, it's an off-kilter sing-along dance party waiting to happen. Johnson and Martsch create a giddy, charming almost-harmony featuring a laundry list of ridiculous images (who else could get away with rhyming "bake a cookie" with "get some nookie?") and a funky beat. "Virginia Reel Around the Fountain," from The Rebels Not In, has a more densely layered sound, featuring both grandiose, psychedelic Built to Spill-style guitar and funky, slippery Dub Narcotic Sound System-esque bass. However, the silliness remains, as Johnson ruminates about a "savage cabbage leaf" in his rumbling deadpan bass, and Martsch suggests, "Don't say you know, just say you don't know." Even after three records, The Halo Benders remain an on-again, off-again side project for all parties involved. Let's just hope that the inspiration strikes again soon! .. .... This profile was edited with ..Thomas Myspace Editor V3.4.. ....
Members
Steve Fisk (keyboards, theremin, production) Wayne Flower (bass, drums) - Treepeople Calvin Johnson (vocals, guitar) - Beat Happening - Dub Narcotic Sound System Ralf Youtz (drums, guitar) - The Feelings - The No-No's Doug Martsch (guitars, vocals) - Built To Spill - Treepeople
Influences
Sounds Like
.. .. .. .. .. Don't Touch My Bikini .... .. .. .. .. .. Freedom Ride Live @ Visual Arts Collective, Boise, Idaho. 4-9-07 ........ .. .. .. .. .. Mercury Blues Live @ Visual Arts Collective, Boise, Idaho. 4-8-07 .... .. .. .. .. .... Virginia Reel Around The Fountain Live @ Visual Arts Collective, Boise, Idaho. 4-8-07 .... .. .. .. .. .. Don't Touch My Bikini Live @ Visual Arts Collective, Boise, Idaho. 4-8-07 .... .. .. .. .. .. Blank Equation Live @ Visual Arts Collective, Boise, Idaho. 4-8-07 .... .. .. .. .. .. Built to Spill with onscreen Calvin: "Bomb Shelter (Part 2) .......... .. .. .. .. ..