Wednesday, June 16, 2004
The Minor Thirds release their new album "Dishwasher Thief"
Released June 16, 2004, on Sad Penguin Records (www.sadpenguin.com)
Contact: info@sadpenguin.com
The Minor Thirds' new album, Dishwasher Thief, is a pulp crime story. The main character convinces his lover to accompany him on a heist, planning to have her take the fall. They commit the crime, go into hiding, get caught, and someone goes to jail—but who betrays whom?
There's even a chase scene.
Why write a pulp novel as an album? "I'm interested in the challenge of telling a story through songs without having dialogue or ending up with musical theater," says the Minor Thirds' songwriter, Chris Piuma. "You don't need to worry about the plot to enjoy the album, I hope. But a lot of what is in the album comes from how the songs play against one another, how the characters interact over the course of the album. And who doesn't like hearing crime stories?"
The Minor Thirds are Chris Piuma, Charlotte Wells, and Jacob Anderson. They are joined by Chris Calvert from the band Bronwyn, who plays drums on several tracks. They're from Portland, Oregon, and this is their third album. (Their previous albums are The Zealot's Curse, a catalog of romantic frustrations, and Saskatchewan, a fever dream about escaping to the Canadian prairies.)
Dishwasher Thief was recorded entirely with acoustic instruments. Most of the songs are guitar/accordion/upright bass/drums/vocals, but a few tracks feature the Ethereal Choir of Vengeance and the Pick-Up Ensemble Of Righteousness, most notably a cover of Cole Porter's song "Ace In The Hole".
The Minor Thirds have played living rooms, clubs, benefit shows, children's shows, and roadside guerrilla shows, and their concerts range from silliness to vitriol. They have toured the West Coast and the Canadian prairies, and will be doing another small West Coast tour this summer.
For more information visit www.theminorthirds.com or www.sadpenguin.com.
