Electric Owls-Ain't Too Bright (2009)

Genre: Indie, Rock, THE COMAS!!!
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Tracklist

1. Magic Show
2. Halloween Mask
3. Cannibal Superstar
4. Darken Me
5. Us Weakly
6. Put, The Candle, Back!
7. Kamiakin
8. Two Stories
9. Haint in the Holler
10. Kallispell

In an act of self-preservation, The Comas took a well-deserved break in 2007, leaving Andrew Herod free to leave New York in pursuit of non-musical endeavors. Spending time in North Carolina, California, and various states in between, Herod nevertheless found himself drawn back to music, prompting a new round of songwriting and the subsequent formation of the Electric Owls. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Herod (The Comas), along with guitarist Jason Caperton (The Comas), bassist Matt Gentling (Band of Horses, Archers of Loaf) and drummer Cully Symington (Gutter Twins) recorded the disc at Echo Mountain studio in Asheville, NC last summer.

Electric Owls released a four track EP entitled 'Magic Show' last November to coincide with a fall tour that Herod undertook on his own, supporting Bishop Allen. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and a digitized band, Herod wowed fans with the songs he’d written while he was couch surfing in North Carolina and later working at a nuclear power plant in California while The Comas were on hiatus.

'Ain't Too Bright' is the product of Herod's wanderings and eventual relocation to Asheville, NC, whose mountainous surroundings and unique, hippie/indie culture can be heard on the album's acoustic numbers. Songs like "Darken Me," "Haint in a Holler," and "Kallispell" are rooted in the classic guitar 'n' vocals approach, with various orchestral flourishes (including analog synthesizer and hammered dulcimer) adding psychedelic gauze to the mix. Elsewhere, Herod embraces every nook and cranny of his muse, from the breezing power pop of "Halloween Mask" to the expansive "Magic Show," which combines Arcade Fire's zealous attack with the buzz of '80s keyboards. Such a quirky, diverse foundation is held together by Herod's voice, a chameleonic tenor that's capable of crooning and yelping in equal measure. Contributions from members of the Gutter Twins and Archers of Loaf don't hurt, of course, but 'Ain't Too Bright' is still Herod's baby, an engaging debut (of sorts) that stands alongside his best work with The Comas.