Album Notes

Austin's Darin Murphy has drawn praise from critics, record sellers and curious listeners in North America and Europe for his thoughtful lyricism, melodic instincts and catchy vibe. Formerly known as simply "Darin", Murphy made a dent internationally in 2000 with his self-performed debut, Solitarium, particularly in the UK, enjoying favorable reviews in Mojo and Q. Musical comparisons cover a wide range, from Robyn Hitchcock and David Bowie to Aimee Mann and Son Volt, but Murphy's roots clearly lie somewhere in London in the 1960's. His uncanny Lennonesque vocals recently landed him a job on Broadway in the new musical LENNON, opening spring 2005.

In the fall of 2000, Murphy teamed up with Swedish engineer/producer Lars Goransson (The Cardigans, Cotton Mather) and a year later released Haunted Gardenias. With it came new fans, songwriting awards and regular airplay on Adult Alternative radio. The anthemic "Boxing Day", a winner in the 2002 International Songwriting Competition, is regarded by most as the album's strongest track. On the other hand, others favor the exotic rocker "Metro B". The guitar-saturated fury of "Flat" and "Ginger Granite" is contrasted with the percussive hypnosis of "Gina Gardenia". Ballads such as "Masterpiece", "Turning Into You" and "The Heavens Cried For You" are emotional catharses for some, while "Blackberry Plain " and "Zero G" add a healthy dose of playfulness. As with his first record, Murphy handles most of the instruments and vocals on Haunted Gardenias.