Minky Starshine hovers just above the sweetest sounds of the pop-rock soundscape. This band is much more than four pretty faces who write sugar pop melodies mixed with the 70's-inspired, radio rock they grew up on. In 2006, their majestic pop anthems shot heart-shaped arrows straight from their hips into the hearts of East Coast audiences. They spent the year supporting their debut release, "Hooray for L.A.", which was produced and engineered by Ken Stringfellow (Posies, R.E.M., Big Star).
Their sophomore release is the album they've been long threatening to record: a towering mountain of melody and pop production that was both lament and celebration - and is as infectious as listening to a box of old 8-tracks in your Uncle Don's basement. The refined studio line-up features Mike Musburger (Posies, Fastbacks) on drums this time around. Recorded primarily by ex-Hot Rod Circuit member Michael Poorman at Strangeways Recording in Providence, R.I., Minky also teamed up with pal Ken Stringfellow (Posies, Big Star) in Paris, France at Le Domicile Studio, and with Chris Manning (Jellyfish, Guster) out at Salamander Sound in California.
Sonically grander than previous Minky Starshine records, 2012's "Womanity" is tightly arranged and produced, delivering bursts of warmth and color from start to finish. The songs continue to feel like memories from our past, but are fashioned to recall the most notable melody makers in todays hip indie culture. This is the birth of a new beat. Drawing upon the classic powerpop running through their blood, Minky and his camp of lovelorn bandits have pulled out all the stops this third time around. The newest addition of drummer John Sands(Aimee Mann, Liz Phair) and Tracy Bonham(vocals/violin) combined with a soundscape of horns, synths and other oddball blips and bleeps, often brings to mind the creative genius of a mad-scientist ringside at the circus. But, how can a cosmopolitan brand of indie rock still be strut worthy while offering listeners such hope and emotional sentiment? This record answers that question while turning new wave aesthetics into old wave media. Oh, the womanity of it all...Produced by Anthony Resta(Duran Duran) and mastered by Chris Gehringer(Rihanna, Lady Gaga) at various locations along the east coast. These dashing gentlemen have taken sticky sweet rock and roll and turned it into a daily anthem for the soul.
Read more...