#fantasy memorial

"Holy Moses" by Dinosaur Feathers 

Week SEVENTY-FIVE, everyone! That's huge! That's divisible by five! In 25 "short" weeks (time, of course, is relative) we'll be hitting an even greater milestone and I'm going to start thinking of something special to do. Perhaps I will organize a contest. Perhaps there will be a wonderful prize. Who knows? For now, I'll focus on the present and begin the week off with a fun group: Dinosaur Feathers. 

Originally envisioned as a solo bedroom act, Dinosaur Feathers has gone through an interesting transformation since they kicked things off in 2009. Today, they're marketed as a rock outfit but I choose to fondly remember them as the quirky trio they were when I was introduced to 2010's Fantasy Memorial. The band consisted of Greg Sullo (drum machine, guitar), Ryan Michael Kiley (bass), and Derek Zimmerman (keyboard) with all three providing vocals. The band came to prominence by playing anywhere they were welcome (and I'm sure a few places they weren't) and were finally able to release a full-length which slipped under the radar when it really should have garnered some praise. 

Infectious. That's the one word I'd use to describe Fantasy Memorial. There's something about this band's music that is irresistible. They combine boyish, complex and gorgeous vocal harmonizations/rounds with afrobeat-, folk-, and surf pop-influenced musical arrangements in a way that is sure to make you smile. Though the album starts off a bit slow, once it kicks into high gear...it's on like Donkey Kong. However, Dinosaur Feather's penchant for the blind energy barely disguises a sharp ear for hypnotically beautiful pop arrangements that you'd never expect from a band that wrote a song urging George R.R. Martin to complete A Song of Fire and Ice. Don't be fooled by these guys, they're sentimental and are just as likely to make you dance as they are to make you weak in the knees. 

Today, Dinosaur Feathers are a slightly different band. They have live drums now and they've just released a new rock-oriented album entitled Whistle Tips. But before they had those things they were a group of dudes from Brooklyn fooling around and composing some great songs. Give them a spin. Fantasy Memorial is perfect for the transition from bright day to warm night. 

spotify link

THE SOUND: freak folk, lo-fi, indie rock, upbeat music, use of acoustic guitar, elements of minimalism, male vocalist with a mid-to-high range, summer music, nature as a theme, influenced by Latin music, extensive use of vocal harmonization, Game of Thrones enthusiasts, use of keyboards, use of drum machine, use of strange sounds. Album lasts 46 minutes. 

Tracklisting:

I Ni Sogoma

Vendela Vida

Teenage Whore

Family Waves

Sleeping In

History Lessons

Crossing the Cannon

Holy Moses

Know Your Own Strength