MP3: mr. Gnome – “The Way”

mr. Gnome are already following last year’s excellent Madness in Miniature (review) up strong with a new digital 7″ Softly Mad, consisting of tracks “The Way” and “Still Life”. The former is a standout, as good as anything on Madness in Miniature, our 35th favorite album of 2011. The track features an organ the duo bought in a Madison, Wisc. thrift store for $20. “I started messing around one night and found this one setting that reminded me of the Flaming Lips,” singer/guitarist Nicole Barille says. “I started free styling a few melodies over the simple chord progression, recorded the session onto a GarageBand demo and when it came time to record, used all of those ideas and tried to really layer up the vocals so that each part progresses until the end.”

Barille also notes the dark lyrics on the track. “Save yourself from my mind,” she croons over a twangy guitar lead, her voice alternating easily between an intense snarl and creaky murmur. This was one of the group’s most prevalent strengths on Madness in Miniature, and it continues here with “The Way”.

[toggle title=”Mr. Gnome Spring Tour Dates”]
03/22 Boise ID @ The Red Room – Treefort Music Festival
03/23 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
03/24 Seattle WA @ Sunset Tavern
03/27 San Francisco CA @ Thee Parkside
03/28 Sacramento CA @ Luigi’s
03/29 Los Angeles CA @ Bootleg Theater
03/31 Albuquerque NM @ The Launch Pad
04/03 Salt Lake City UT @ Urban Lounge
04/04 Denver CO @ Hi-Dive
04/06 Springfield MO @ The Outland
04/07 Kansas City MO @ Riot Room/Middle of The Map Festival
04/10 Columbia MO @ Sideshow
04/11 Saint Louis MO @ Plush
04/12 Indianapolis IN @ Radio Radio
04/13 Chicago IL @ Schuba’s
04/14 Grand Rapids MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
04/20 Cleveland OH @ Beachland Ballroom
04/21 Toledo OH @ Ottawa Tavern
04/27 Dayton OH @ Blind Bob’s
04/28 Columbus OH @ Skully’s
05/04 New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
05/05 Pittsburgh PA @ The Brillobox[/toggle]

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