Madison, WI. (Top40 Charts/ Slothtrop Records) - Slothtrop
Music is proud to announce the Oct. 16 national release of "Allergic to Everything," the third release from Reno, Nevada, rock band Mister Vague. Produced and recorded by Alan Sparhawk of the indie-rock band Low and his trusty engineering sidekick Eric Swanson, "Allergic To Everything" amps up the high voltage rock factor from the band's 2006 full-length debut release, "File Under : Trial," while still retaining the moodier, melodic-but-dark side of the band's music.
With 10 songs ranging from minimalist pop tunes to epic guitar assaults, "Allergic To Everything" reflects a couple years in the writing life of Mister Vague singer and guitarist Mark Earnest. Featuring longtime Vague cohort Neal Kramer on guitar and new rhythm section Jason Thomas on drums and Marcus Mayhall on bass, "Allergic" reflects a time of tumult for the group, as filtered through Earnest's surrealistic lyrical lens. Allusions to the dark underbelly of Reno abound, as do personal changes among all the bandmates, from families with drug addiction to the loss of parents to friendships both lost and regained.
"We tried really hard to capture what it was like in our lives at the moment," Earnest said. "We've had tumult in the band with a changing lineup and tumult in our lives with a lot of loss, but a fair amount of hope as well. We wanted to throw all of that in to the songs." The album was recorded and mixed in March and April 2007 - very far from Reno - at Sacred Heart Studios, in Duluth, Minn., hometown to Sparhawk and Low. A deconsecrated church converted into a studio, Sacred Heart gave Mister Vague the ambiance and warmth they needed for the recording - despite the temperatures outside.
"We traveled to Duluth at the end of winter, which is kind of nuts," Earnest said. "But we were so surprised and happy when Alan said yes to producing at Sacred Heart that we jumped at the chance. We're longtime Low fans and love the sound Alan gets out of his guitars and amps, which was got to use during the session. It's also a beautiful place to record - there are definitely some spirits residing in the church's corners, still."
Part of the motivation to return to Earnest's former Midwest hometown was the interest of Madison, Wisconsin's Slothtrop Records. Two years into performing as Mister Vague, Earnest submitted a cover of "Bandit," a Neil Young song, for Slothtrop's "More Barn" charity CD of Young covers to benefit the Bridge School. Slothtrop Music President Eric Hester liked the track so much that he wanted to hear more, and Earnest duly sent the "File Under: Trial" CD which was released by tiny Seattle label Unsmashable Records.
"I really loved the songwriting and style on 'Trial,' and wanted to re-release it, so we did that at the end of 2006 and earned 100 plays on college radio," Hester said. "I wanted to keep working with Mark and the band to see what would happen next, and I'm thrilled to hear what they did with Alan and Eric in Duluth. The songwriting is emotional and strong, and the performances are vibrant and outstanding. We're pleased to bring 'Allergic' to other ears."
Despite the ever-present strum-und-drang of day jobs, Mister Vague plan to promote "Allergic to Everything," with more shows. This is especially true in the Western U.S., where Earnest and Co. have earned a following with a series of enigmatic but highly-charged shows. "With a Mister Vague show, it could be just me - and I don't really just stand there and play and emote like a folksinger - or it could be the whole band just blasting away," Earnest said. "Either way, the plan is to keep playing live, keep writing, and keep evolving as we go along, with whatever comes along."
For more information on Mister Vague, or to hear samples from "Allergic To Everything," visit www.myspace.com/mistervague or www.mistervaguemusic.com.
To receive a promotional copy of "Allergic to Everything" for airplay or review, please contact Slothtrop Music at info(at)slothtrop.com or by phone at 608-224-0093.
