Bird Cages of the 1930s

“My Body Sang” by Benjamin Jameson Morey

Featuring Backup Vocals by Hannah Corey and Lisa Van Keuren

Don’t listen to this on computer speakers, it loses a lot, plus it’s kind of quiet.

theinstrumentsband:

Other Things We’ve Been Doing Part III Part II
“Ben Morey - Under Lights on the Street”

In addition to Ben’s work with New Socks, he has been releasing solo material in the form of a series of ‘wallpaper’ e.p.s, two of which have already been released.

A great source of information on Ben’s personal creative output (in addition to music, he is a prolific graphic artist; the icon for this blog is his rough draft for our new album cover!) is his twitter account, Bird Cages of the 1930’s. I highly recommend checking it regularly.

(Also, I could be wrong, but it sounds to me as though this track features with awesome cello styling of the I. Band’s very own Isaac Tayrien, as well.)

Check it out!

COMING HYPER-SOON! Track listing, album title and artwork for the Instruments Band’s new record! Plus: Samples!

theinstrumentsband:

Other Things We’ve Been Doing Part III Part I
“‘New Socks - Apple Farm’

There is literally no reason not to like New Socks, the new band formed by Instruments Band’s Ben Morey with Molly Kerker (Black Mold Lightning) and Becky Lovell (the Awesomelies). Some of Ben’s catchier songwriting about comfort food, cathartic weather and other things you may remember about childhood is combined with a straightforward but lush (harmonies abound!) musical accompaniment for a warm-fuzzy result you kind of have to hear to understand. The music fits the words in a way I’ve never really heard a band accomplish, and their debut record, ‘New So(ck)(ng)s’ sounds exactly like a warm, woolly sweater.

Their new record is not only wonderful, but easy to obtain. Simply search “New Socks’ on iTunes, or buy a copy at one of their shows (according to the New Socks MySpace page, they are playing a show on November 14th at the farm house @ 4265 Long Point Rd. in Geneseo, NY. They suggest a five dollar donation at the door). I promise you won’t be disappointed.

…and concluding our OTHER THINGS WE’VE BEEN UP TO SERIES, next time we delve into Ben’s solo work. What wonders will behold? Find out!

theinstrumentsband:

Other Things We’ve Been Doing Part II
“‘Justin Pulver - Baby I’ve Changed (early mix)’ and ‘The Monthly Experimental Sound Society’

“…most of you know Justin Pulver as the drummer/Campin’ story-fabricator from the Instruments Band. But, as of late, Justin has become a burgeoning singer/songwriter as well. Here is the first song we recorded for his forthcoming EP Take Care Brown Bear, ‘Baby I’ve Changed.’ It’s a work in progress, but it shows great promise. Check it out!

But that’s not all! Actually, Justin and I have been recording odd songs and experiments now for a few months. We’ve compiled quite a collection of oddities, from songs about the television show COPS to the fairly self-explanatory ‘Not Yo’ Whip (That’s My Whip)’. But our most, er, interesting project (IMhumbleO (what?)) to date has to be The Monthly Experimental Sound Society. Here’s the skinny (what?): Each month we host a free-form, unrestricted jam session and play (extremely) nontraditional music for as long as we feel. Then, for little to no reason, we host the sessions on the internet for anybody who might be interested (namely, Justin and I). At the MESS website (linked above) you can download cover art and tracks for our first three releases. We are also starting to host pictures from our sessions, which are usually held under interesting circumstances (MESS #0002 was recorded in a barn in rural New York; MESS #0003 was recorded during a birthday party). So check it out, and get ready to get befuddled!’

STILL TO COME! Ben stays prolific and Blake… doesn’t.

AND EVEN STILLER TO COME! By the end of next week we’ll be posting the album title and track listing, as well as a song to download. Check it out!

“I’m Scared of a lot of Things” by Benjamin Jameson Morey

with Isaac Tayrien Heather Reba and Significant help from Chris Reba.

This will be the first song on my next e.p. in the Wallpaper series entitled “Songs in the Key of Being Terrified by the Idea of an Entire Life” (or) “The Whale in the Forest”

theinstrumentsband:

Other Things We’ve Been Doing Part I
“‘Isaac Tayrien - As Long as You Like It’

‘…being masters at the art of procrastination, each member of the band has pursued during the recording process of our new record their own independent projects. My project was mostly helping other members of the band with their respective projects.
I was intrigued by the idea of working with Isaac on his solo project, because I appreciate his pop sensibility (his song “Restless At Night,” from the upcoming Instruments Band record, has been described to me as ‘an appropriate theme song for The Hills’ by a close friend. So yeah.), and I wasn’t let down.

This song was recorded during two different sessions: the first, when Isaac described the minimal, sparse sound he wanted on the record; and the second, when Isaac informed me he had blissfully abandoned minimalism for four-part harmonies and double-tracked everything. The result is very Make Good Choices-era Instruments Band: big, lush, catchy and awesome (biased.). This song will be appearing on Isaac’s upcoming solo record Let Go, so… behold!”

UPCOMING! Ben’s new band (and solo work), Justin goes alt-country, and half of the band explores experimental freakout noise music on a highly regular basis. Which half? Find out soon!