Kimono Dragon

Recorded, produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by A.M. Interstate

It's easy to like a band that starts its album with the line "Pardon my French, but I'm fucking pissed." With this nugget from their third full-length release, Kimono Dragon, Cy and Seth Erickson of the Redmond, Ore.-based duo A.M. Interstate say volumes about their attitude. They suggest a mixture of rock 'n' roll angst and down-home folksiness that reflects their sonic blend of country, indie and psychedelia.

Tonally, A.M. Interstate is musical comfort food. On slow and mellow tunes like the title track, the nostalgic feel and layers of instrumental components weave into a well-worn blanket of sound. As the vocalist sings his reverb-drenched lines, the piano ostinato anchors the tune and makes the listener want to curl up on the couch with a latte and good headphones.

Even when the band picks up on rockers like "Halo," the driving shuffle and distorted guitars performing unison bends only bring the necessary level of tension to contrast the general easy-going mood. After all, they need some tension to support lyrics like, "You're my girl, the one with the drugs / The one with the love that makes me feel like I'm undone / 'Cause you're my girl, the one with the gun / Pointed straight at my heart in the hands that hold my love."

A.M. Interstate uses its psychedelic influences to freshen their sound as the album progresses. During the instrumental breaks (rare treats in the world of indie rock), the guitar solos are skillfully performed and filtered through effect pedals, though the synthesizer sometimes seems forced. It's often the quirks that make these tracks memorable, such as the keyboard's octave figures on "Roscoe's in the Revolution," which jump around like a riff lost from a Postal Service song. These hooks help separate A.M. Interstate from a galaxy of folk-rock bands that grasp for "authenticity." (Poison Tree Records)

www.myspace.com/aminterstate

-Ryan Faughnder

am interstate gets blog attention;  'kimono dragon" has been release to the world.  GET FREE downloads on some of the links featured below. 

stay tune for the full UK story.  we played Manchester - sheffield - and liverpool. it was amazing!.  in addition be requesting am interstate on your local radio and media friends. 

the profile picture is us infront of the bar that housed king richard the 3rds prisoners. this was in york. 

stay tuned for more to come!

 

songs for kimono:

Solid Gold

Bologna

Kimono Dragon

Mahogany

Boy Genius

All the King's Men

Sugarbyrd

Suede

Halo

Jennifer Gentle Siamese Cat

Rawhide & Sweater

Roscoe's in the Revolution

Into the Sun