I’ve been consistently dropping some EASYBOY around the blog when I can so it gives me great pleasure to announce that you can now physically own Friends – how rad is that! EASYBOY is the good homie Eric Farber who some of you might know as one-half of the Boston (by way of Jamaica Plains) psych-pop outfit Truman Peyote. “Crafting a kind of crooked ferris wheel ride, somewhere between sound-collage and bedroom pop” Eric not only successfully manipulates sweet melodies reminiscent of 90s jams (“The Shakes” is totally copping Sugar Ray) but changes the game of dynamics, lyrical delivery, sampling and expectations as we know it. Words becoming instruments becoming sounds becoming my thoughts – it’s all so over my head! Stitching seams between bedroom techno, beach-crunk-blunt-pop, button pressing and couch potato’ing come way too easy for the dude, kinda makes me feel like he’s hiding Zach Condon or more realistically Zach Hill in his weed-growing closet or something (dear mothers and law enforcement: it’s legal in Toronto). Though encouraged to listen straight through, there are undoubtedly multiple story lines cycling through Friends. “Markers,” “Chest Swimmers” and “Wrenchin’” brew up a batch of the most desirable vocal affectations and phatheartbeats while a parallel – and more realized yearning – narrative is told through “The Shakes,” “Mr. Patella” and “Cactus.” But what about “Sunny Day Garbage Pile,” “Beebugs” and “Slick Nap”? These establish the environment, the color created by light and the foundation which the tape sets its paws upon. FMLY is all about Friends and EASYBOY has arranged a collection of memories, metaphors and images to express what I’ve tried so hard to put into words this past year. Oh, and I apologize ahead of time to whatever larger label eventually gets a handle on Eric for ‘leaking’ half of this album – lets just call it a FMLY exclusive and say that I’m doing what I can to get these sounds out from my heart to yours. Fucking patriotic!
Friends dropped on cassette yesterday via Spooky Town Artifacts. $4 right here, 100 99 left. If it encourages you to pick this up, with every listen Friends takes further strides in changing my life for the better. Eric, I fucking love this – you’re the man!
EASYBOY – Markers
EASYBOY – Beebugs
EASYBOY – Cactus
BNS
EASYBOY – Chest Swimmers
EASYBOY – Wrenchin’
Truman Peyote – Beantown
Truman Peyote – New Wife, New Life
fuck yeah dude