Album Notes

Album Summary:
When we set out to work on "Prairie Monsters," we didn't have much of a plan at all. We (Solyoni songwriters Dominic Aulisio and Dan Lurie) were presented with the task of delivering a 1992 Honda Accord from Akron, OH 2500 miles west across I-90 to Seattle, WA. It would be an adventure that would hopefully inspire us and conjure up new ideas and feelings, etc. We see the world around us as absurd, beautiful, heart breaking, inspiring, and hilarious. We just wanted to try and articulate the things we encountered and witnessed, loosely played against the archetypal concept of the 'road record.' What followed is the collection of music on this album. In some instances, there are more conventional songs and melodies reflecting the moods and feelings of what proved to be a somewhat rocky journey. There is plenty of loneliness, uncertainty, and frustration to be had on the road (we broke down twice and actually only made it as far as Buffalo, WY before the car died). But there is also a sense of hope and promise that comes with each new day as you roam from town to town. There are a variety of songs that try to capture these moods. In other instances, the songs are more narrative driven. These songs are inspired by the wonder and inspiration of seeing new things. "What's going on behind that grain silo?" "Who built these metal dinosaurs?" "Why is there a building made entirely of corn?" While none of the tales told on "Prairie Monsters" answer any of these burning questions, all the stories are inspired by the tragic and rusting beauty of the American Midwest.

Recording Notes:
Prairie Monsters was recorded over the course of two years on 4-tracks, laptops, and in home studios in Seattle, WA, Athens, OH, and Wilmington, N.C. The album was mixed by Aaron Semer of Seattle band The Plains, and mastered in Athens, OH by Adam Fox of Parker Ben Parker.

Solyoni Bio:
While Solyoni's musical endeavors currently take place primarily in Seattle, the ruminations of the band began in Athens, Ohio in the spring of 1999. Friends bound by a common lust for generic cereal mascots, Solyoni braintrust Dan Lurie and Dominic Aulisio agreed to dwell together in a 5' by 9' one bedroom efficiency for a period of one year. Lurie and Aulisio precociously assumed that if they picked up musical instruments they had no idea how to play, an avalanche of brilliant song writing would logically ensue. Living at the time in a commune of hunters and artisans, they didn't have far to search for more talent to flesh out their desired 'sound.' Enlisting any willing and able-bodied musician, Solyoni forged a tradition of incorporating varied musical talents. Lyrically, Solyoni attempts to weave interesting off-kilter tales, or give unusual perspectives on common themes. Musically, the personality of the songs is aided significantly by the considerable talents of Aaron Semer and Jon Kilian of Seattle band The Plains, Robert Lurie, José Sandoval, Chris Pierson, and Bethany Gordon, as well as Adam Fox of Ohio's Parker Ben Parker. This ever-growing collective of musicians is spread all across the country, though Solyoni's current live band is stationed in Seattle where Dan Lurie takes up residency.