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***One year after the release of his solo debut, Blurry, Slim Cessna's Auto Club songwriter and co-frontman Munly recorded this follow-up with a full backing band including cello, violin, banjo, tuba, accordion, percussion, and trumpet. Going under the name Munly De Dar He, the band rehearsed and recorded in an abandoned semi trailer in Denver, Colorado. The resulting full-length, originally released on the W.A.R. label in 1997, is a drastic departure from Munly's debut with a far more rootsy, back-country feel. The group next moved to Austin, Texas, just long enough to play a few shows and make an appearance on MTV's Austin Stories before hightailing it back to the "Centennial" state where they befriended two other bands on the Denver scene, 16 Horsepower and Slim Cessna's Auto Club (the band Munly would join two years later). Influenced by American roots music, country, and folk, the new triumvirate began crafting what they called "The Denver Sound" which also incorporated gothic and punk influences. After a few tours, Munly set off for New York City leaving his back-up musicians behind in Boulder, where they eventually morphed into the country-cabaret act Devotchka. Munly de Har He kicks off with "Tried and True Against the Law," an upbeat song perfect for any hoe-down. Some tracks, like "Shoot Her With A Good Hand Gun," retain the lyrical humor from Blurry while others, like "Austria's First Fever," have a darker feel, prominent on later Munly albums. Munly de Dar He also finds Munly exploring the scope of his fantastic voice, ranging from low baritone to high falsetto to the yodel now commonly heard on Slim Cessna's Auto Club releases. This special edition reissue, remastered by Bob Ferbrache at Denver's Absinthe Studio, is limited to 1000 copies. 30-second MP3 excerpts: Tried and True Against the Law
Chutzpa
My Erziehung
Shoot Her With a Good Hand Gun
Seven Warts On Pa's Belly
Austria's First Fever
Teach Pachyderms To Swim
Floating on Huron
County Train
Shame
Saucy Wench
Turk From an Angel |
